UFC Saudi Arabia Robert Whittaker vs Ikram Aliskerov Predictions

UFC Saudi Arabia is here, a free fight night on ESPN+, held in the middle of my day. Let’s get this Saturday going! The Main Event features Robert Whittaker, and the short notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov, who is trying to stake his claim for a run at UFC gold.

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Full Main Card Analysis Below:

Main Card Opener Light Heavyweight 205lbs

Johnny Walker (-130 Favorite)

21-8-0

• Height 6′ 6″,
• Weight 206 lbs
• Age (32)
• Reach: 82″

Last 5:

Volkan “No Time” Oezdemir (+110 Underdog)

19-7-0

• Height 6′ 2″,
• Weight 206 lbs
• Age (34)
• Reach: 75″

Last 5:

Johnny Walker finished his saga with Magomed Ankalaev taking the TKO loss after the no contest from October 2023. Prior to that he was on a 3 fight win streak defeating fighters all significantly smaller than him in the reach department. Volkan Oezdemir fought Daniel Cormier for a title in 2018, but since then has been largely inconsistent going 4-5 since the title shot loss. Both fighters generate a lot of power here, and with the 7 inch reach advantage I lean Johnny Walker. Johnny Walker KO

Middleweight 185lbs

Sharaputdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov (-575 Favorite)

12-0-0

• Height 6′ 2″,
• Weight 185 lbs
• Age (30)
• Reach: 73″

Last 5:

Antonio “Malvado” Trocoli (+375 Underdog)

12-3-0

• Height 6′ 5″,
• Weight 185 lbs
• Age (33)
• Reach: 80″

Last 5:

Sharaputdin Magomedov is undefeated, 1-0 in the UFC, and is standing behind 10 total knockout wins. Antonio Trocoli is making his UFC debut, but was supposed to make his debut last week against Ikram Aliskerov. Only fighting once since his departure from the Contender Series, due to a failed steroid drug test, Trocoli is looking to work his way back. Magomedov showed holes in his takedown game in his first UFC fight, but I think his focus won’t be deterred from this camp. Sharaputdin Magomedov KO

Middleweight 185lbs

Kevlin Gastelum (-195 Favorite)

18-9-0

• Height 5′ 9″,
• Weight 184 lbs
• Age (32)
• Reach: 71″

Last 5:

Daniel “D-Rod” Rodriguez (+165 Underdog)

18-9-0

• Height 6′ 1″,
• Weight 184 lbs
• Age (34)
• Reach: 74″

Last 5:

Kelvin Gastelum struggled at cutting weight in his bout for Sean Brady which he lost due to decision. He proceeding to need to move this fight all the way from welterweight to catch weight, and now to middleweight. Both veterans here are coming off of finishing losses. Daniel Rodriguez is the longer fighter, and taller. The veterans trying to reroute the course, and get back into the win column. Kelvin Gastelum Decision

Heavyweight Up to 265lbs

Sergei Pavlovich (-220 Favorite)

18-2-0

• Height 6′ 3″,
• Weight 260 lbs
• Age (32)
• Reach: 84″

Last 5:

Alexander “Drago” Pavlovich (+180 Underdog)

37-10-0

• Height 6′ 7″,
• Weight 258 lbs
• Age (35)
• Reach: 80″

Last 5:

Heavyweights are facing off, and combined they have gone 13 fights without seeing a judges scorecard. Sergei Pavlovich won 4 in a row before losing the interim title shot to Tom Aspinall his last time in the octagon. Alexander Volkov also lost to Tom Aspinall, but he’s put up a 3 fight win streak in the time since his loss, proving he still has the ability to finish big fighters. Former teammates in this one. Alexander Volkov KO

Middleweight 185lbs

Robert “The Reaper/ Bobby Knuckles” Whittaker (-140 Favorite)

26-7-0

• Height 6′ 0″,
• Weight 186 lbs
• Age (33)
• Reach: 73.5″

Last 5:

Ikram Aliskerov

15-1-0

• Height 6′ 0″,
• Weight 184 lbs
• Age (31)
• Reach: 76″

Last 5:

Robert Whittaker has only lost 3 times in the past 10 years. Through that time he became champion, and since losing the belt, he hasn’t lost a step. Ikram Aliskerov’s only career loss was a knockout to Khamzat Chimaev in 2019. Perfect in the UFC 2-0, all by KO. Whittaker is 9-2 as a favorite, winning 52% of his fights by decision. Robert Whittaker Decision