Robert Whittaker is back in contention for the UFC middleweight title after his first knockout win in over seven years.
The former world champion viciously stopped late-notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov as the promotion made their debut in Riyadh. He is now riding a multiple-fight winning run for the first time since the end of 2021, and is likely to stay in or around the top contender spot alongside Sean Strickland.
Khamzat Chimaev was due to be Whittaker’s opponent, but was forced out on just a few days’ notice due to a ‘violent illness’. He was reportedly offered to the entirety of the top 15 as an opponent, but nobody took the promotion up on it and he was forced to fight the unranked Aliskerov.
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Robert Whittaker stuns fans with first knockout win since 2017
Australian Robert Whittaker is one of the UFC’s most beloved middleweights, and was deemed a perfect test for Chimaev in this bout. But when he was forced out with illness, the promotion had to scramble for a replacement.
Askarov was deemed a worthy adversary despite his lack of ranking, holding a 15-1 record with Chimaev his only defeat. But the levels were shown on the night as ‘Bobby Knuckles’ reminded the world of his ferocious punching power.
Within ten seconds of the bout, Whittaker was showing his fight IQ as he read his opponent’s biting on feints with an early move. And minutes later, he landed an overhand that stunned Aliskerov and left him on wobbly legs.
He then teased a shot to get his rival to raise his guard, before blasting him with a thunderous uppercut that dropped his rival. A few more shots later and referee Marc Goddard stepped in to call a stop to the bout.
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After landing a clean stoppage victory, Whittaker is keen to continue his momentum with an opportunity at winning back middleweight gold. He has already lost twice to Israel Adesanya, and was stopped by Dricus Du Plessis when they fought last year.
But he is willing to travel to Perth for UFC 305 and tip the scales at the 185lb limit in the hopes that he can earn another chance at the belt. Speaking with Daniel Cormier in the octagon after the fight, he insisted that he is still the most fearsome fighter at middleweight.
“I told everybody I’m the boogeyman,” he said. “I’m the best in the world and I’m the most dangerous matchup for anyone in the division… I’m the most dangerous middleweight in the world, I’ll take a fight anywhere any time and I proved it tonight.
“I’ll prove it again, I’ll fight anyone.” And when asked if he was still interested in being the backup for Adesanya’s effort at Du Plessis’ belt in Australia, he replied “I’m healthy, I’m hearty, let’s go!”
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