UFC Saudi Arabia Results: Bonus Winners, Highlights And Scorecards
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 22, Robert Whittaker from New Zealand celebrated his win against Ikram Aliskerov from Russia in a middleweight fight at the UFC Fight Night event at Kingdom Arena. The photo captured Whittaker's reaction to his victory.
In the world of MMA, there are different stages of skill, and Robert Whittaker showcased his talent to all the fighters in the UFC's middleweight category during his fight in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
You can't just bring a guy in last minute and think he will give me a challenge.
Whittaker didn't hesitate to defeat last-minute opponent Ikram Aliskerov in the headline fight at UFC Saudi Arabia. Whittaker first injured Aliskerov with a direct right punch, and then sealed the deal with an uppercut and two more punches. Referee Marc Goddard intervened to stop the fight.
Check out the final result:
Whittaker had a lot at stake in this match.
Originally, he was supposed to fight Khamzat Chimaev, but Chimaev had to withdraw due to food poisoning. This led to Aliskerov, who had only lost to Chimaev before they joined the UFC, being moved from a co-main event to a fight against Whittaker.
It quickly became evident that the 31-year-old Russian fighter was not at the same level as his opponent. Aliskerov, a skilled and up-and-coming contender, might have a chance to face off against another middleweight ranked just below the top 15 in his next match.
Even though he wasn't fully prepared for his role on Saturday, he showed promising talent for future achievements in his weight class. Whittaker's impressive performance earned him a Performance of the Night Bonus, solidifying his position as the third-ranked middleweight fighter globally.
He probably wants a chance to fight for a title in his next match. He would probably be willing to fight Sean Strickland, with the victor facing the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis.
Many MMA sources appear to be in consensus that a matchup between Whittaker and Strickland would make the most sense and be quite thrilling for the division.
The Adesanya-Du Plessis match is set to take place on August 17 at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.
Whittaker, who is originally from Australia, offered to be a backup fighter for either competitor in case the main event needed a substitute. Whittaker has been defeated by Adesanya twice and Du Plessis once, so it is logical for him to be considered as a secondary option behind Strickland.
Strickland defeated Adesanya but lost his championship to Du Plessis in an disputed split decision earlier this year. Regardless of what comes next for Whittaker, he has set himself up for a big opportunity in his upcoming bout.
Volkov Dominates Pavlovich
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 22nd, Alexander Volkov from Russia threw a punch at Sergei Pavlovich, also from Russia, during a heavyweight match at the UFC Fight Night event held at Kingdom Arena. The photo captures this intense moment in the fight.
In a fight between two Russian ex-training partners, the experienced Alexander Volkov demonstrated his advanced abilities.
He scored points and caused a lot of damage to his opponent's face by using his long reach, accurate punches, and perfectly timed side kicks. This resulted in a clear victory by unanimous decision.
Following the match, Volkov approached Pavlovich to pay his respects, but Pavlovich angrily pushed him aside.
Volkov has achieved victory in his last three matches, while Pavlovich, who was previously considered a top contender in the heavyweight division of the UFC, has suffered two consecutive losses.
Winners Of UFC Saudi Arabia Bonuses
Fight fans were treated to an exciting night of action as Robert Whittaker, Shara Magomedov, Alexander Volkov, and Felipe Lima all stepped into the ring to showcase their skills.
Whittaker was entitled to his bonus, while Shara Magomedov managed to secure a bonus by defeating Antonio Trocoli with a third-round TKO, despite him being a last-minute replacement.
Volkov's dominant win over Pavlovich landed him a bonus and put him in the running for the interim title. In the prelims, Felipe Lima secured an impressive victory with a third-round submission against Muhammad Naimov.
Below are the outcomes from the UFC's inaugural event in Saudi Arabia, including the judges' scores and memorable finish moments.
