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The show must go on for Robert Whittaker as he gears up to face Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia. This unexpected matchup arises following Khamzat Chimaev's last-minute withdrawal due to a severe illness, leaving Whittaker to adapt quickly to a new and formidable opponent.

Whittaker's Resilience and Readiness

Robert Whittaker, known as "The Reaper," has proven his tenacity time and again. Winning The Ultimate Fighter in 2012 and eventually securing the UFC middleweight championship, Whittaker (25-7) has faced and overcome numerous challenges. Despite losing his title to Israel Adesanya in 2019, Whittaker bounced back with three consecutive victories before falling short in a rematch in 2022. Since then, he has maintained a record of 2-1 in his last three fights.

“There weren’t a lot of names thrown around, nobody would take it, it was too short notice. I understand the level of danger Ikram brings in. He is a guy coming in last minute, he was fighting this weekend, so he’s ready, he has nothing to lose, everything to gain, and he has a dangerous skillset,” Whittaker shared ahead of the bout.

Aliskerov's Impressive Streak

Ikram Aliskerov (15-1) is no stranger to high-stakes competition. A seven-time Sambo gold medalist, Aliskerov has seen success in Brave CF, with his only professional loss coming at the hands of Chimaev in 2019. Since then, he has amassed a seven-fight winning streak and boasts a 3-0 record in the UFC octagon. Aliskerov's last appearance was in October, and he now looks to capitalize on this unexpected opportunity to make a significant impact by defeating a former champion.

Event Details and How to Watch

UFC Saudi Arabia is set to take place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, June 22. The prelims, featuring notable matchups such as Farid Basharat vs. Montel Jackson and Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jared Gordon, will begin at noon ET, airing on ESPN+. The main card kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, with Whittaker and Aliskerov expected to enter the octagon around 7 p.m. ET. The main card will be available on ABC and ESPN+ in the U.S., with streaming options via Fubo.

As the anticipation builds, fans worldwide are eager to see whether Whittaker can adapt to this last-minute change and maintain his status as one of the top fighters in the middleweight division, or if Aliskerov will seize this chance to ascend to new heights in his MMA career.

Editor: Vitalina Patskan