Robert Whittaker vs Ikram Aliskerov Prediction: Ex-Champ is Still a Menace

On June 23rd, Saudi Arabia is hosting the UFC tournament we've all been waiting for, with many fighters from the former Soviet Union. The card will be kicked off by the fight between Robert Whittaker and Ikram Aliskerov, with the Russian stepping in as a replacement for Khamzat Chimaev, who's been ill. The bout will be in the middleweight category.

Robert Whittaker, a name that resonates with many, earned his champion title in 2017 after a remarkable fight with Yoel Romero. While he lost the title two years later in a knockout by Israel Adesanya, his resilience and skill have kept him at the top of the rankings, making him a formidable contender for the belt.

Even so, Whittaker has been at the top of the rankings for several years now, delighting fans with his tough and unique style and being considered one of the top contenders for the belt.

Robert's last bout happened in February of this year when he beat Paolo Costa very convincingly.

We were all waiting with bated breath for his fight with Chimaev, and we crossed our fingers just in case, but it didn't help. Unfortunately, Hamzat fell ill, so Ikram Aliskerov, preparing for the fight a week earlier with a little-known opponent, will take his place.

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’s 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.

Robert Whittaker

Ikram Aliskerov is a relatively new face in the UFC's top tiers and has already made a name for himself among fans. It looks like he's in it for the long haul. He suffered his only career loss five years ago at Brave CF when Khamzat Chimaev knocked him out. After that, Ikram was on a roll. He won seven straight, including six early wins. Aliskerov has only had two fights in the UFC so far, and in both cases he finished his opponents in the first round.

I believe Ikram will finish Whittaker due to punching power. Robert's not so fresh anymore. Yes, Aliskerov has a knockout loss. He lost to Chimaev, but that was a long time ago. It happened at interim featherweight, where Ikram's punching power wasn't at that level. Now Aliskerov is on a steady course, he fights more often in the standing, although he is a basic sambo fighter. I think Whittaker will get hit, and Ikram will get hit, but youth and ability to hold a punch will help our fighter finish Rob.

Aslanbek Badaev, a Pro MMA Fighter

Ikram Aliskerov has his work cut out for him. In just one week, he'll have to make a long flight from Las Vegas to Saudi Arabia (it'll take almost 24 hours), then deal with jet lag and keep his weight steady. Plus, such short notice might be too much.

We think that all of that will play a key role. Whittaker is too clever to let this one get away. The bout will probably be held on the feet, where the former champion will try to wear down the audacious opponent with more experience. The fight will likely come to a close near the end of the confrontation. Ikram will have a tough time keeping up the pace and staying focused for so long, and Whittaker will try to take the initiative, though he won't knock him out. He'll throw more punches.