15-1 middleweight Ikram Aliskerov isn’t just looking past his UFC Vegas 93 opponent, he’s almost shared his post-fight speech already.
After two weeks on the road, the UFC is returning to the warehouse where dreams are made; with 15-1 Russian middleweight contender Ikram Aliskerov finally set to make his first appearance of 2024 in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 93.
- UPDATE: In the hours since this article was posted, it was revealed that Aliskerov will now replace Khamzat Chimaev for UFC Saudi Arabia main event
Ikram Aliskerov returns to action in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 93
UFC Vegas 93 this weekend can almost be thought of as the ‘prospect’ card, with multiple fighters set to compete who fans and pundits alike believe could one day become either UFC champion or at least a top contender.
That includes middleweight hopeful Ikram Aliskerov, who returns to the octagon for the first time since October 2023 to face Dana White’s Contender Series alumni, 12-3 Brazilian powerhouse Antonio Trocoli.
Yet even prior to his co-main event clash with Trocoli, the Russian is making a major demand to the UFC – one that ends with him facing one of the best fighters in the middleweight division, “No matter what.”
Ikram Aliskerov makes bold demand ahead of his fight vs Trocoli
With 11 of his 15 wins as a professional MMA fighter ending inside the distance, it’s no surprise that Aliskerov is looking to make quick work of his UFC Vegas 93 opponent and earn himself yet another statement win at 185lbs.
“I want to come out there and finish him in exciting fashion,” he said confidently to the UFC News crew, adding how “This is exactly what I’ve been channeling, this is what I’m ready for, and I’m excited to do it on Saturday.”
Should Aliskerov get that statement win, he demands that the UFC fast-track him to the upper echelon of the middleweight division; even offering a potential time window for his next fight.
“I think one more of these exciting finishes and the next fight, they definitely have to give me a Top 10 fighter no matter what… September, October, I’d be ready to fight the next fight [then] – I’d love to.”
Aliskerov is currently riding an impressive seven-fight winning streak, which includes back-to-back first-round knockout victories over Warlley Alves and Phil Hawes in his last two bouts.
Yet the middleweight contender has been a frustrated figure in recent months, with bouts against Paulo Costa, Nassourdine Imavov, Anthony Hernandez, and Andre Muniz all falling through since his victory over Hawes in mid-2023.
“It’s a bit annoying to tell you the truth, all these changes, but there is nothing I can do about it; this is just sport… This is my job, this is what I have to do, and I have to come out and perform.”
Interestingly, the last man to defeat Aliskerov in the octagon was undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev, and you better believe that the Russian would do anything to get that win back.
‘Borz’ returns to action himself only next weekend in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, where he will take on former middleweight champion Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker.
“Of course I’m excited about that fight,” Aliskerov noted.
“But right now, the most important thing is my fight at middleweight, the fight I have this Saturday… After this fight, that’s when I’m gonna count down the days until next Saturday to watch that fight at middleweight.”
Ikram Aliskerov vs Antonio Trocoli is set for the main event of UFC Vegas 93, scheduled to go down this Saturday live from the UFC Apex.