The former UFC middleweight king vows not to let a short-notice replacement get in the way of the statement he’s about to send the division.
This weekend, the UFC touches down in Saudi Arabia for the first time in the promotion’s history with the fan-favorite former middleweight champion welcoming short-notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov to the upper echelon of the 185lb division.
Robert Whittaker says he’s going ‘hunting’ in the dunes of Arabia
Speaking to the UFC News crew, former champion Robert Whittaker explained that when facing an unranked and untested fighter like Aliskerov, he’ll need to draw on all his 12 years of experience in the UFC if he is to get his hand raised on Saturday evening.
“I’ve got to lean into my experience and I’m definitely pushing my own gameplan. Especially now, skillset wise I understand the threat and the danger that he poses to me.
“But I believe I’m better across the board and there’s a reason I’m ranked #3 and a previous middleweight champion – and he’s going to find out.”
Despite being ranked in the top 5 and coming off an impressive decision win over Paulo Costa earlier in the year, Whittaker acknowledged that he’ll never feel the pressure of a UFC main event dissipate.
“The fear of performing well is massive, it doesn’t change, and it doesn’t get easier,” he explained, before sending an ominous message to Aliskerov: “I’ll deal with it how I always do and come Saturday; I’m going hunting… No pressure, no diamonds.”
Whittaker certainly needs to go head-hunting if he’s to deliver the statement win that he desires, with his last knockout victory coming all the way back in 2017 against Ronaldo Souza – his seven wins since that bout have all come via the judges’ scorecards.
Yet ‘The Reaper’ expanded on this ferocious gameplan at the pre-fight press conference, in which he noted that “as much as it’s a sport, it’s a combat sport,” where respect goes out the window as soon as the cage door locks behind him.
“We’re two warriors going in there and we’re going to really test our metal. The idea is to be in there and be the hunter, and just hunt him down, and hurt him, and hurt him [again] until he goes away, is very much the gameplan.”
A big win sees Whittaker remain in contention for a title shot
Whilst a dominant decision win, or viral knockout, over the highly touted Khamzat Chimaev would have undoubtedly seen the Australian re-enter the title picture in a big way, defeating the unranked Aliskerov is more about maintaining strength of schedule.
“The middleweight division is full of opportunity, it’s dynamic and flowing,” he shared, with the 185lb title up for grabs in just a few months’ time when champion Dricus du Plessis returns to action to face Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.
“Winning opens doors, and I’m looking forward to getting over Ikram.
“The only sure thing in the UFC is that winning opens doors, and my focus is solely on this Saturday night and getting my hand raised – I’ll worry about the rest afterwards.”
Interestingly, should Whittaker get his hand raised and take minimal damage, there could be a chance that he steps back into the training room on short order in order to align himself as the backup fighter for the upcoming title bout.
That bout, which had been rumored ever since the South African wrestled away the title from Sean Strickland in February 2024, was finally confirmed earlier this week following a ‘War Room’ leak.
If a backup option fails to materialize, there’s always the option to face Strickland himself later in the year; with a win there likely securing another shot at reclaiming his undisputed middleweight title.
Robert Whittaker vs Ikram Aliskerov is your new main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, scheduled for June 22 live from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.