Robert Whittaker is moving up to 205 pounds, and a prominent UFC voice already knows who he wants to see standing across the cage from the former champion.

Fitzgerald Suggests a Stern Test

UFC play-by-play man Brendan Fitzgerald has circled a specific name for Whittaker's first light heavyweight outing: former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr., currently ranked No. 5 in the division.

"The name I circled is Khalil Rountree Jr. at No. 5," Fitzgerald told MMA Junkie. "Is that too high on his entry into the division? But in terms of the matchup, former middleweight Khalil Rountree who has had success at 205, and Robert Whittaker is a big name still and a former champ."

Fitzgerald believes the matchup would inject energy into a light heavyweight division currently in flux.

"It injects some life into the division," Fitzgerald said. "Ulberg has the knee injury now and we'll see what's going to happen at 205, but the fact Rountree is a former middleweight, as well (makes it a good fight)."

Whittaker Confirms Move to 205

Whittaker, the former UFC middleweight champion who started his octagon career as a welterweight, recently confirmed he will weigh 205 pounds the next time he steps on the scale for a UFC fight.

The Australian made the call to "try something different" after losing two in a row in the UFC, including a first-round submission defeat to current 185-pound champion Khamzat Chimaev. Prior to those setbacks, Whittaker scored victories over Ikram Aliskerov and Paulo Costa.

Whittaker cited the toll of weight cutting as the primary reason for leaving middleweight.

"There's no doubt in my mind I could make middleweight," Whittaker told Submission Radio. "I can make it still, I can lose the weight, but I just don't know if I'm getting the best out of myself having to cut that weight. The camp performance kind of really suffers on the back end of a weight cut and a lot of fighters can testify that."

Timing Works in Whittaker's Favor

Whittaker's move up to light heavyweight seems well-timed on paper. The division is in a state of chaos with new champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined with an ACL tear, and most of the other remaining contenders either unavailable, injured or coming off key losses.

Fitzgerald wants to see Whittaker get a litmus test immediately, rather than a soft landing.

"Part of carrying the market for us in Australia for a while and in the name of International Fight Week, let's go Australia on the card against Khalil Rountree Jr.," Fitzgerald said. "Or just someone in the mid-range name at 205. Let's give Whittaker his credit for all he's done and the great fights he's had and he's the former champ moving up. Let's see what he's got at this later stage in the division."

Target Date Set

Whittaker is currently targeting a June return for his octagon debut at 205 pounds. He wants to give himself proper time to adjust to the new weight class.

"I want to give myself the appropriate amount of time to really get all the gears going again," Whittaker said. "Especially if I'm moving up to 205, I want to adjust to the weight. I want to perform at the weight. I want to build some muscle. I want to give myself like a decent leg of work, like a good four months to prep and come in there at my best."

Victorious in 26 of 35 professional MMA bouts, including knockouts over Ronaldo Souza and Derek Brunson and decisions against Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier and Darren Till, "The Reaper" brings a decorated resume to the light heavyweight division.