Robert Whittaker and Ikram Aliskerov threw down in a makeshift main event at UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
The five-round middleweight affair had originally featured ex-champ Whittaker opposite Khamzat Chimaev, but with Chimaev falling ill, it was Aliskerov, in just his third UFC fight, filling in.
A much less anticipated main event for the UFC‘s debut in Saudi Arabia, being honest. A huge opportunity for Aliskerov, however, to land himself on the map.
Unfortunately for Aliskerov, it just wasn’t to be. Early on in Saturday’s main event, Whittaker connected, and hurt Aliskerov badly. Whittaker, smelling blood, went on the hunt, firing a head kick then letting his hands fly. A right uppercut then dropped Ikram, turning out the lights and ending the fight in a heartbeat.
In case you had any questions, Robert Whittaker is still very much a threat at 185lbs, not yet ready to give way to the division’s younger generation. With the win, he may just turn around in a couple of months and serve as a back-up for the Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya title fight in his native Australia, an opportunity “The Reaper” has said he would be open to.
Official Result: Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov by KO, Round 1, 1:49
