The UFC has landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the very first time in the promotion’s history. The main event of the UFC Saudi Arabia fight card will feature a middleweight bout between former champion Robert Whittaker and Ikram Aliskerov. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 22, with the main card airing on ABC at 3:00 p.m. ET and prelims on ESPN starting at noon ET.
Initially, Whittaker was set to face Khamzat Chimaev in the main event, but the fight fell through due to Chimaev falling ill. Aliskerov, who was training for another fight on a previous UFC card, was shifted to the UFC Saudi Arabia event. Whittaker currently holds the No. 3 spot in the official UFC middleweight rankings, while Aliskerov is unranked in the 185-pound weight division.
Robert Whittaker made his UFC debut in 2012 and has since had a successful career with a record of 25-7. He has previously held the UFC middleweight crown but lost it to Israel Adesanya in 2019. Whittaker is coming off a decision victory over Paulo Costa and is determined to climb back up the rankings in the middleweight division.
On the other hand, Ikram Aliskerov made his UFC debut in 2022 and has a professional record of 15-1. A decorated Sambo fighter, Aliskerov has impressed with two first-round TKO wins in his UFC outings. The UFC Saudi Arabia event provides a massive opportunity for Aliskerov to make a statement with a win over a former champion like Whittaker.
In terms of odds, Whittaker was initially favored to win the bout, but the odds have since shifted with Whittaker at -170 and Aliskerov at +120. Whittaker has solid striking and takedown defense stats, while Aliskerov’s numbers might be slightly inflated from his previous fights. Despite this, there is a possibility for Aliskerov to secure a knockout win over Whittaker in the main event.
Overall, the matchup between Whittaker and Aliskerov is expected to be a competitive and exciting one. While Aliskerov has shown promise with his performances, Whittaker’s experience and skills make him the favorite heading into the fight. Fans can expect an intense battle between the two fighters as they vie for victory in the UFC Saudi Arabia event.
