Robert Whittaker has a new opponent, but the stakes for his next fight are as high as ever.
Former middleweight champion Whittaker will face up-and-coming challenger Ikram Aliskerov on Saturday at UFC Saudi Arabia. Whittaker was coming off an impressive win over Khamzat Chimaev to give him another shot at UFC gold, but Chimaev was forced to withdraw due to illness, and Aliskerov was thrust into the main event spot at short notice.
The co-main event will see heavyweight powerhouse Sergey Pavlovich take on Alexander Volkov in another heavyweight bout that is also a favorite to win. Pavlovich will be competing for the first time since being knocked out by Tom Aspinall at UFC 295, while Volkov will travel to Saudi Arabia on a three-fight win streak.
Also on the main card, Kelvin Gastelum will face Daniel Rodriguez in a welterweight bout, featherweight prospects Mohamed Naimov and Mersik Baghdasaryan will square off, and light heavyweight finishers Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir will open the ABC portion of the show.
Check out the full UFC Saudi Arabia lineup below.
Main Card (ABC, ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Sergey Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Muhammad Naimov vs. Mersik Baghdasarian
Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Prelims (ESPN, ESPN+ 12 p.m. ET)
Shara Magomedov vs. Joylton Luterback
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jared Gordon
Rinat Fakretdinov vs. Nicolas Dalby
Kang Kyung-ho vs. Muin Gafurov
Magomed Gaziaslov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Cedric Dumas vs. Denis Tiuriullin
Xiao Long vs. Chan Ho Lee
