Ikram Aliskerov’s teammate Ramazan Kuramagomedov believes that he will not only beat Robert Whittaker on Saturday, but could catapult himself into a world title fight.
The Dagestani fighter has just two fights fully under the UFC banner. And he was nowhere near a top 15 ranking when he answered the call to replace Khamzat Chimaev in tomorrow’s main event, which saved the promotion’s first fight night in Saudi Arabia.
But he puts himself in a tremendous spot with a win against the Australian, who is ranked number three and a former world champion. Meanwhile in Dublin, his teammate Kuramagomedov will be fighting Jason Jackson for the Bellator welterweight title in another big fight for the team.
Ramazan Kuramagomedov backs Iskram Aliskerov to beat Robert Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia
Ramazan Kuramagomedov has trained with Ikram Aliskerov countless times, and noted how he feels the Russian is one of the greatest current 185lb fighters in the world. He is confident that his teammate will win, and could catapult his way into title contention.
“Ikram is one of the best in the middleweight division,” Aliskerov told media including Bloody Elbow on yesterday’s Bellator Dublin media call. “He is ready for this fight with Robert and in my opinion? He will win.”
Asked by Bloody Elbow if he was surprised that Whittaker would take such a high-risk low-reward fight, Kurmagomedov noted that by that late stage in training camp he likely was just keen to get into the cage with anyone.
“This was not a suprise,” he explained. “When you are a fighter and you have prepared to fight, you put everything to the side. Your time, your family, all of the time in training camp.
“So just one week before fight and someone calls you to say your opponent is out? It doesn’t matter who will be facing you, you just want to make it work and you just want to fight.”
Ikram Aliskerov told he could get world title opportunity with win over Robert Whittaker
Whittaker is currently ranked number three, with the two contenders ahead of him otherwise engaged. Sean Strickland is content to wait out another shot at the belt after beating Paulo Costa at UFC 302 while Israel Adesanya will take on champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August.
Kurmagomedov believes that for all intents and purposes the Australian is the top name in contention for the belt. And should Aliskerov win, he reckons that it will see his teammate catapulted up the rankings into contention.
“If he wins, why not?” He replied after Bloody Elbow asked if the 15-1 middleweight would deserve a quick-fire shot at the belt. “Robert Whittaker is the number one contender.”
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