Robert Whittaker was looking for an opportunity and it might pay off.
After handily defeating Ikram Aliskerov via TKO in the main event of UFC on ABC 6 in Saudi Arabia, Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) expressed interest in serving as the backup for the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 on Aug. 17.
“I'm not kidding. Nobody in the top 15 wanted to fight Aliskerov,” White told reporters at the post-fight press conference. “This guy was in the co-main event last weekend. He came in with a full camp. Khamzat (Chimaev) called this guy one of his toughest fights ever, but Whittaker made it easy tonight. He looked like a star. … We want him in there (as a backup for UFC 305).”
Whittaker has lost to du Plessis (once) and Adesanya (twice), his only losses in his last 18 fights. Since losing to du Plessis in 2023, Whittaker has won consecutive bouts. The bout with Aliskerov lasted just 1 minute, 49 seconds.
Other top middleweight contenders at the moment include Sean Strickland, Nassoordin Imavov and Khamzat Chimaev. None of those fighters are currently booked, but after Saturday's bout, Imavov and Chimaev received requests to be booked against Whittaker.
For more on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC on ABC 6 event hub.
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