Whittaker vs Aliskerov Prediction: Is the Russian Ready for This Challenge?
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Vladislav Tchakarov
Robert Whittaker is set to face Ikram Aliskerov after a last-minute change in the lineup, forced by Khamzat Chimaev's illness. Will this turn out to be a gift to the former champion or Aliskerov's big break? Here is our Whittaker vs Aliskerov prediction.
Whittaker vs Aliskerov Prediction: Can Ikram Shock the World?
Robert Whittaker Preview
Robert Whittaker, also known as ‘The Reaper' and ‘Bobby Knuckles', is one of the most experienced fighters on the roster and a former UFC Middleweight champion.
With a record of 26-7-0, Whittaker is known for his diverse arsenal and high fight IQ. His notable skills include superior striking prowess, effective defense, and excellent wrestling skills. Whittaker can adapt to any opponent's style, which makes him an extremely dangerous opponent.
He makes excellent use of his kicks and punches, often combining them with quick takedowns to the ground. Even at this age, Whittaker has enough stamina to last five rounds against the best in the world.
However, Whittaker also has his vulnerabilities. One of the main problems is his ability to take a hit. In the fight against Dricus Du Plessis, he was knocked out, which showed his vulnerability to pure power. Israel Adesanya also managed to knock him out of his title in 2019.
If the fight drags on, Whittaker will need to be especially careful to avoid mistakes that could cost him the win. Before we continue with the Whittaker vs Aliskerov prediction, let's look at his short-notice opponent.
Ikram Aliskerov Preview
Ikram Aliskerov, a former world champion in combat sambo, has an impressive record of 15-1-0. His only loss was to Khamzat Chimaev back in 2019 when both performed in Brave CF. But since then, Aliskerov has won seven wins in a row, many of them by stoppage.
Ikram has knockout power and excellent wrestling skills. His ability to combine strikes and takedowns makes him versatile, and able to adapt to any opponent. Aliskerov also has an impressive 193 cm armspan, which gives him an advantage against most fighters in this weight class.
As good as he may be, there is a lot to be said about his disadvantages ahead of this fight. Firstly, this will be his third UFC fight. He entered the roster through Dana White's Contender Series 54 and then beat Phil Hawes and Warrley Alves in his two fights since.
Aliskerov isn't even ranked in the division and he was supposed to fight a low-ranked opponent last week. He got pushed to take this fight after Chimaev withdrew. But this fight will take place on the other side of the world and this requires preparation and acclimatization.
And considering that this will be a five-round bout, it could be a serious test of his stamina. He has never fought for five rounds and he has to do it against one of the best in history.
Our Robert Whittaker vs Ikram Aliskerov Prediction: Full Five Rounds?
Whittaker, with his experience and ability to adapt, will look to control the fight with his striking and transfers. He will try to keep Aliskerov at a distance using his kicks and quick movements. If necessary, Whittaker can also hold his own if the fight goes to the ground.
Aliskerov, on the other hand, will be looking to use his powerful punches to finish the fight early. He will try to close the distance and deliver decisive blows using his physical strength and wrestling skills. If he manages to take the fight to the ground, Aliskerov will look to finish the fight quickly with submission or ground and pound.
Luckily for Ikram, ‘Bobby Knuckles' is no longer the knockout monster he was in his early days. His last KO/TKO win was in 2017, so there is a good chance that this fight will draw out despite the gap in experience.
But in the end, we have to side with the former champion for our Whittaker vs Aliskerov prediction. We simply do not believe that Ikram is at that level yet. He has never faced someone like Rob and this fight came in too early.
Nevertheless, this main event will be incredible, and even with the other changes, the full card remains solid. Perhaps it is not as attractive as it was two weeks ago but we anticipate a fun event.
Vlad is a former amateur MMA fighter. After a series of injuries, he found a different way to connect with the sport and its fanbase - through writing. He's been covering everything-UFC for over 5 years on various platforms and has been part of the team at NYFights since early 2022.
