Ikram Aliskerov, despite enduring two weight cuts in two weeks, is seizing the opportunity to headline UFC Saudi Arabia against Robert Whittaker after Khamzat Chimaev‘s withdrawal, aiming to make a significant impact in the 185-pound division.
Two weight cuts in two weeks? Not fun. But Ikram Aliskerov is ready to seize a massive opportunity in his first UFC main event.
Khamzat Chimaev fell ill, pulling out of Saturday’s card. Aliskerov steps in on just nine days’ notice to face former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker in UFC Saudi Arabia’s headliner.
Originally, Aliskerov was set to fight Antonio Trocoli at UFC Vegas 93 last weekend. Now, he’s booked for the biggest fight of his career.
It’s a step up in competition, but Aliskerov aims to send a clear message to the 185-pound division on Saturday.
“I’m not used to being the prey over there in the octagon,” Aliskerov said via a translator at UFC Saudi Arabia media day. “I’m not used to somebody hunting me.”
“So I’m going to be the one that’s going to surprise him, and unpleasantly surprise him about being a hunter, myself,” he continued. “And I’m going to make sure I do whatever I need to do to finish the fight.”
Aliskerov enters the bout on a seven-fight win streak. This includes two first-round knockout victories against Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves.
His lone pro loss in 16 outings? Came against Chimaev at a Brave Combat Federation event in 2019.
The 31-year-old was just a day away from weighing in for his bout with Trocoli when he got the call to fight Whittaker. Now, he has to go through the process all over again.
“Yeah, it’s not a fun process to say the least,” Aliskerov explained. “I was almost on weight back then.”
“I was drinking water, pretty much made the weight,” he added. “Then I stopped drinking water.”
“When I found out about the fight [with Whittaker], I had to stop the process,” he said. “Kind of hold the weight that I was at at that point for a couple of days.”
“Then come [to Saudi Arabia], start [drinking] water again,” he continued. “And then stop again because this is the same weight we stopped at last week.”
“So it’s not a fun process, but this is sport,” Aliskerov concluded. “This is what we do. This is something we have to be ready for.”