UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event Pick
CANADA – For the first time in its history, the UFC heads to Saudi Arabia with a respectable fight card. Although it started with Khamzat Chimaev in the headlining act, maintaining former champion Robert Whittaker is still a sellable ticket. There were big promises when the UFC announced its plans to go to Saudi Arabia, so much so they postponed it to this weekend after not having an appropriate card for the originally rumored card in March. Read more UFC Saudi Arabia main event pick.
Robert Whittaker looks to get back into title contention by following up his February victory over Paulo Costa.
Streaking prospect, Ikram Aliskerov, aims to add the biggest name to his win column and break into title shot territory.
Will the veteran remind everyone that he is still one of the best middleweights in the world? Or will the Russian stamp his arrival to the top 5? Read on to see how these different styles match up and who should come out on top.
Hey, while you’re at it, click here to check out our Godzilla Wins Daily Staff Picks! 
Robert Whittaker
We will be a week short of 10 years since the last time Whittaker competed at welterweight, a division in which he entered the UFC. He moved up to middleweight in November 2014 and that started a eight-fight winning streak that saw him earn and defend the middleweight championship.
Wins over the likes of Uriah Hall, Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, Jacare Souza, and Yoel Romero affirmed to most that Whittaker was the best middleweight on the planet.
Then he ran into Israel Adesanya who captured gold in late 2019. It took three straight wins for Whittaker to earn his rematch and he was able to put on a more competitive fight with the champion, but still came up short. Now 2-1 since the second Adesanya fight, Whittaker only came up short against eventual-champion, Dricus Du Plessis.
Whittaker has largely found success with his karate-like striking style. He bounces on the balls of his feet in and out of range to let go on his straight shots. Normally pivoting out of the pocket well, it’s been hard for opponents to land cleanly on him, which sees him get ahead on the scorecards without much issue.
Wrestling is something he carries in his back pocket if needed, so much so that he could have qualified for the national wrestling team in Australia had he pursued it. He has been fighting at a high level for a very long time, with 11 of his last 15 fights being either a main event or co-main event offering.
Ikram Aliskerov
Originally known as the most legit opponent Khamzat Chimaev defeated on the regional scene, Aliskerov has done a solid job of carving out a reputation of his own.
The Chimaev defeat is the only loss in his 16-fight career. Since then, he won four fights on the regional scene, which gave him an opportunity to fight on the Contender Series in 2022. He pulled off a quick submission victory and vaulted himself into the UFC.
Now coming off back-to-back first round knockouts over Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves, Aliskreov has been given much respect form the UFC as they’ve tried matching him up with the likes of Paulo Costa, Nassourdine Imavov, and Anthony Hernandez. All those fights did not materialize, but it all led to him getting this short notice main event opportunity against a former champion.
It’s no secret to what has helped Aliskerov become so successful, it’s his grappling and ability to finish opponents in that realm. When he has gone into deep waters, things look a tad shaky, but we can give him the benefit of the doubt that he is shoring those things up. It’s clear he’s been working on his striking game considering the back-to-back knockout victories he is coming off.
There could be a slight asterisk in those fights as they came against fragile and weathered fighters, but it will surely help Aliskerov’s confidence when throwing leather.
The Pick
Aliskerov is up against it here given all the changes and formalities he has had to deal with in the last few weeks. From opponent changes, to now having to fly across the pond and prepare for another two rounds of fighting. Not to mention, this is a gigantic step up in competition from fighting a weathered Warlley Alves to now former champion Robert Whittaker.
Whittaker has only tasted defeat three times at this weight class, and they were against former champion, Adesanya, and current champion, Du Plessis. I expect Whittaker’s striking and speed advantage to aid him in battering Aliskerov on the feet. It will be dangerous early, but if Whittaker can come out unscathed and muzzle the power of Aliskerov, this will be an easier beast to tame in deeper water.
Whittaker has the defensive wrestling to shut that aspect of Aliskerov’s game down, it just comes down to staying defensively responsible in the striking realm and getting off on his own offense. To get Whittaker at this price tag against someone taking a leap up in competition is a no-brainer spot for me.
