In combat sports the UFC Saudi Arabia results: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov, we frequently hear the phrase “there are levels to this.” Ikram Aliskerov learned on Saturday that he was not on the same level as former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
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MMA Fighting has the UFC Saudi Arabia results for the Whittaker vs. Aliskerov
MMA Fighting has the UFC Saudi Arabia results for the Whittaker vs. Aliskerov fight card, as well as a live blog for the main event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday afternoon.
The main event pits former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker against rising contender Ikram Aliskerov. Whittaker is coming off a stunning decision victory over Paulo Costa, while Aliskerov hopes to go 3-0 to begin his UFC career.
In the co-main event, top competitors Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov will compete in a heavyweight bout.
Tonight’s UFC Saudi Arabia fight card,
Airing on ABC, took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the main event, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker faced up against late replacement Ikram Aliskerov at 185 pounds. Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov, both ranked in the top five, fought in the evening’s co-headlining bout at heavyweight.
Whittaker was originally supposed to meet Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, but the bout was called off due to Chimaev’s illness. Aliskerov, who was training for a bout on last week’s UFC Vegas 93 show, has been switched to the Saudi Arabia event.
Whittaker, who entered UFC Saudi Arabia as the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings, dominated the unranked Aliskerov in the first round.
Whittaker improved to 26-7 with the knockout victory. The former UFC champion maintained his poise throughout the brief fight. The fight’s close odds and the hoopla surrounding his opponent, who was 2-0 in the UFC with two first-round knockout victories, did little to disturb the former champion’s confidence.
Whittaker was taking a gamble with this battle.
If he had lost, his future title prospects would most likely have disappeared in the heat of Saudi Arabia. Instead, Whittaker emerged unhurt from Kingdom Arena, and his stock is sure to grow as a result of the knockout victory.
In the evening’s co-main event, Alexander Volkov defeated the mighty Sergei Pavlovich in a fight that saw the betting underdog pull off a huge upset victory. Volkov entered UFC Saudi Arabia as the No. 5 heavyweight, while Pavlovich was ranked third.
