Robert Whittaker has a new opponent, but the stakes in his next fight are just as high.
The former middleweight champion headlines Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia event against up-and-coming challenger Ikram Aliskerov. Whittaker was looking to score a statement win over Khamzat Chimaev in the hopes of earning another shot at UFC gold, but Chimaev was forced to withdraw due to illness. Aliskerov now steps into the main event spot on short notice.
In the co-main event, heavyweight slugger Sergei Pavlovich takes on Alexander Volkov in a bout that also has contender implications. Pavlovich fights for the first time since being knocked out by Tom Aspinall at UFC 295, while Volkov travels to Saudi Arabia riding a three-fight win streak.
Also on the main card, Kelvin Gastelum fights Daniel Rodriguez in a welterweight bout, and light heavyweight finishers Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir open the ABC portion of the show.
See the lineup for UFC Saudi Arabia below.
Main Card (ABC, ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET)
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Muhammad Naimov vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan — cancelled
Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Preliminary Card (ESPN, ESPN+ at 12 p.m. ET)
Shara Magomedov vs. Joilton Lutterbach
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jared Gordon
Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nicolas Dalby
Kyung Ho Kang vs. Muin Gafurov
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
