Expert prediction
UFC Saudi Arabia Preview: Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov Prediction, Odds, and Picks (June 22)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov is the new main event of UFC Saudi Arabia.
- Whittaker was originally supposed to fight Khamzat Chimaev.
- Chimaev is the only man who’s ever defeated Aliskerov.
Robert Whittaker was a +200 underdog against Khamzat Chimaev who he was supposed to fight in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia. However, after Chimaev pulled out of the fight, Whittaker got himself a new opponent. The man in question is Ikram Aliskerov, who’s seen as the underdog in the June 22 fight in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Robert Whittaker | -140 |
| Ikram Aliskerov | +120 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
- Time: ~3:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ABC
Fight Preview
Robert Whittaker can count himself lucky to get a new opponent in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event. Sure, he was supposed to fight Khamzat Chimaev for a place in the championship bout later on, but it’s a big question of whether he’d win. In fact, bookies seemed fairly certain he was going to lose.
The reason was that Chimaev is one of the best wrestlers in the entire UFC. Ikram Aliskerov too is a fine wrestler, but he’s nowhere near as good as Borz. Speaking of Chimaev, he’s the only fighter who defeated Aliskerov so far. He did it in 2019 with a first-round KO.
Are we going to see the same thing happen in the Whittaker fight? It sure seems like it. The main reason is that most of Aliskerov’s recent opponents were fighters whose main weapon is wrestling or grappling – Phil Hawes, Warlley Alves, etc.
Further, he’s never fought a 5-round bout before. Actually, each of his last three fights ended in the first round, so we really don’t have much data about his stamina.
Then, there’s the thing about his preparation for the fight. He was supposed to fight a week earlier at UFC Vegas 93, so he’s had a full camp. However, the fight in question was meant to happen in the United States, while the fight with Whittaker is taking place in Saudi Arabia.
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What this means is that he’s had to fly across half the world to get there. The flight from Las Vegas to Riyadh usually takes more than 12 hours. Add to that the jet leg he probably experienced, and you’ll understand that he might not be at his best fitness level right now.
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov Prediction
Ikram Aliskerov was a real sport to accept a fight many ranked fighters reportedly declined. He saved the day for the UFC but he probably won’t achieve much in the fight. Everything is going against this guy, but even if he were 100% ready to fight Whittaker, we’d still bet against him. The reason is simple – Whittaker is one of the best middleweights of his generation.
Free Pick:
- Robert Whittaker
MMA
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