23 June, Riyadh. In the main event of the UFC in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Robert Whittaker defeated Ikram Aliskerov with a decisive first-round knockout. Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was originally scheduled to fight up-and-coming fighter Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday, June 22, but the latter had to withdraw due to illness. To preserve the main event of the UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia, the unranked Aliskerov—whose sole loss as a professional came against Chimaev—stepped in.
In Riyadh, Whittaker, 33, put an end to the 31-year-old Russian in just two minutes. With an overhand right, the Australian stunned Aliskerov. He then jabbed and gave him a grazed head kick. Whittaker then delivered an uppercut into the fence to secure his second consecutive victory.ht, the Australian stunned Aliskerov. He then jabbed and gave him a grazed head kick. Whittaker then delivered an uppercut into the fence to secure his second consecutive victory.
After losing shockingly to Dricus Du Plessis in July, the former champion has since recovered to defeat Paulo Costa and Aliskerov. Du Plessis, meanwhile, went on to win the championship in January. The only losses the Australian has had in the past ten years, aside from Whittaker’s loss to Du Plessis, have come at the hands of Israel Adesanya.
In 2019, Adesanya defeated Whittaker to claim the middleweight title, which he went on to win again in a close rematch with the “Reaper” in 2022.
Later, Adesanya lost the title, got it back, and then lost it again. This August in Australia, the New Zealander who was born in Nigeria is scheduled to battle Du Plessis for the belt.
