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UFC Fight Night: Saudi Arabia 

 

SAT, JUN 22 / 3:00 PM EDT

Kingdom Arena, Saudi Arabia

 

 

 

The UFC is taking its talents to Saudi Arabia, where they will no doubt be giving them a hell of a show. This may be the best fight night card the UFC has put on in a long time, with high stakes for both the middleweight and heavyweight divisions.

 

While the Saudis get the gift of an amazing card, everyone else gets blessed with an amazing card and a 3pm EST start time. Everyone from the west coast of the US to mountainous regions of Europe are grateful for it.

 

 

Saudi Arabian dancing (?)

 

Without further ado, let’s talk about these fights.

 

 

Middleweight Bout

Robert Whittaker (26-7, #3) vs Ikram Aliskerov (15-1, NR)

 

 

 

This fight was originally booked for Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimeav, but that plan was scrapped when Khamzat revealed he was in the hospital with an illness and will be pulling out of the fight. 

 

So enter Ikram Aliskerov..

 

 

 

If you don’t know who Ikram is, you are not alone as Rob Whittaker also admitted he didn’t know who he was either. After studying him a bit, Rob said he is even more of a challenge than Khamzat.. as he more well rounded. I’m not sure if I agree with him as that’s a wild thing to say… but maybe he’s right. Here is record and what you need to know about Ikram Aliskerov ahead of Saturday

 

 

 

 

• From Dagestan and likely wrestled bears growing up
• Has trained with Khabib and Islam Makhachev
• Also has a last name ending in “ov”, which gives him elite grappling out of the womb
• One loss on his record comes from the man he is replacing on short notice, Khamzat Chimeav 
• The Chimaev KO was a brutal uppercut. May have a chance of getting caught

 

 

 

 

So the opening line for this fight only had Robert Whittaker at -130 favorite, which to me was crazy. I was gonna throw as some cash down immediately… but I got hit with the same phenomenon that I’m sure the oddsmakers experienced. Yeah, Rob is a brute and a great fighter.. and he’s had a full camp centered around fighting a grappler. Yes, Ikram is coming in on short notice and is unranked. Why can’t I place a bet?

 

Then it hit me, the facial hair (beard no mustache). The last name. The instagram pictures with Khabib and Islam. We as a community have Dagestani fear, where we just assume everyone who trains there is a killer (because they probably are). Russia, bears, mountains, sobriety… scary shit.

 

Prediction and Betting

 

The Aussie plays spoiler in front of a hostile crowd - Whittaker by KO or unanimous decision. I think experience outweighs nationality, and power is power.

 

 

 

Gambling Pick: Robert Whittaker (-130)

 

 

Heavyweight Bout

Sergei Pavlovich (18-2,#3) vs Alexander Volkov (37-10, #5)

 

 

Big matchup for the heavyweight division here. With the imaginary Russian heavyweight championship on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These two beefcakes are certainly in the mix for the very real UFC championship, especially if Jon Jones decides to ride off into the sunset after the Stipe fight. 

 

 

Nice guy Jon Jones will complete his fairytail carreer later this year

 

 

Both have lost to current (interm?) heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall. Pavlovich was just recently stopped by him back in November when the interm title was up for grabs. Meanwhile, Volkov lost to Tom back in 2022, but has been on a 3 fight win streak since. Both men would love to get their revenge and a win on Saturday will put them one step closer.

 

Prediction and Betting

 

Wanna hear something crazy? Pavlovich has never heard the round ending bell in 8 UFC fights. It will be no different here.. round 2 is for pussies. Plus, hes been looking like Brock Lesnar this week, so I won't be betting againts that..

 

 

 

Gambling Pick: Pavlovich by KO (-145) and/or Under 1.5 (-154)

 

 

 

Other Intrigue

 

 

Johnny Walker is coming of a loss to contender Magomed Ankalaev. He is always fun to watch and has a winnable but tough matchup against striker Volkan Oezdemir.

 

Gambling Pick: Walker (-110)

 

 

Kevin Gastelum is coming off a loss to Sean Brady. He looks to right the ship once more when he takes on Daniel Rodriguez, who just lost to Neil Magny and Ian Garry. Not that high stakes here but should be a good get right spot for one of these guys. Expect high level boxing/striking.

 

Gambling Pick: Gastelum & > 1.5 rounds (-135)

 

 

The undefeated Shara Magomedov (12-0) just had his opponent pull out on him. He’ll victimize whoever the replacement is (Antonio Tricoli?), because Shara is sure as shit a serial killer. 

 

 

 

 

Gambling Pick: Shara Magomedov (odds may not be betable)

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

 

I for one was excited to see Khamzat vs Whittaker. When Khamzat pulled out I was disappointed.. but now that some time has passed I actually think this is going to be a closer matchup in the main event.

 

Khamzat has a style that is very explosive for a few rounds then it starts to dwindle. I have to imagine Whittaker was gonna rope a dope him.. I don’t think that will be an option with Ikram. So - I think fans are actually going to get a better matchup than we were previously in some ways if the fight goes into the championship rounds.

 

So, especially if you’re in the USA, don’t you hesitate to crack some beers while the sun is still shining and watch some great fights.