The fight card for UFC Saudi Arabia underwent a series of last-minute changes, including a main event replacement. But even with this line-up, it is almost worthy of a numbered event. Here are our early Whittaker vs Aliskerov predictions.
UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs Aliskerov Predictions
Khamzat Chimaev is turning into the biggest “what if” in the UFC. Once the most exciting rising star, Borz has had terrible luck in the last couple of years. Not only did the US deny him Visas in the past but he now suffered a serious illness (undisclosed) and had to withdraw with one week left. He has to find a way to fight or he will waste his best years. With this said, let’s focus on the fights that are actually going to happen.
Whittaker vs Aliskerov Prediction
Robert is a legend of the sport. He is a former Middleweight champion but more importantly, he continues to be one of the best in the world in this division. In a perfect world without Israel Adesanya, he would have been the longest-standing champion in UFC history. He beat Paulo Costa in his last fight and was supposed to face Khamzat Chimaev for a potential 4th title shot.
Ikram Aliskerov is the last-minute replacement. In this case, he is not at a disadvantage because he was supposed to fight in the co-main of the UFC event last week and got rescheduled to fight here instead. At the same time, he is at a disadvantage because he isn’t even ranked yet. The UFC simply had no other options.
But this also means that Aliskerov gets the biggest boost anyone could hope for. He enters this contest with a professional record of 15-1. If he beats Whittaker, he will find himself among the highest-ranked fighters in the division.
Unfortunately, we can’t side with him for our Whittaker vs Aliskerov predictions. The Russian is simply not ready for this level yet and Whittaker has more experience than anyone in this division. We have to bet on the former champ here and for some reason, bookmakers also gave him surprisingly high odds too.
• Whittaker to Win
Gastelum vs Rodriguez Prediction
Kelvin Gastelum is a professional mixed martial artist from San Jose, California. He gained fame after winning The Ultimate Fighter 17 in 2013, which earned him a contract with the UFC. Since then, he has become a fan favorite for his exciting fighting style, high striking power, and unstoppable pace. Unfortunately, the last few years have been tough for him and he lost 6 of his last ten fights.
Daniel Rodriguez is another veteran from California but he had a late start to his career (2015). He is known for his aggressive fighting style, knockout power, and fairly good skills on the ground. He had a brutal start when he joined the UFC, winning 7 of his first 8 fights. However, he lost the last two to Neil Magny and Ian Machado Garry.
Rodriguez has the advantage of a longer reach and height. And he knows how to control the pace from a distance. It is shocking to see Gastelum as a massive favorite, despite the age gap. We have to side with the underdog for our Whittaker vs Aliskerov predictions. There is no point risking your money on Gastelum’s moneyline at low odds when this fight will definitely not be one-sided.
• Rodriguez to Win
Whittaker vs Aliskerov Prelims Predictions
Haqparast vs Gordon Prediction
Nasrat Haqparast is hungry for success as he enters this contest after three wins in a row in the UFC. He made his professional debut on December 15, 2012, and has a record of 15-6. Haqparast defeated every mediocre fighter he faced to date but failed every time he faced a higher-ranked opponent (Dober, Hooker, Green).
His opponent has a similar story. Jared Gordon has been struggling to beat the elites but won comfortably against anyone outside the Top 15. He failed against Charles Oliveira, Grant Dawson, and Paddy Pimblett. He has 20 wins, 6 losses, and 1 NC, and has been performing in the UFC since 2017.
This one is hard to predict. Haqparast is 7 years younger and has a 10-centimeter reach advantage. Gordon, in turn, is a much better grappler and he loves wasting time on the ground. If Nasrat can keep the fight standing, he will win. We have to side with him for our Whittaker vs Aliskerov predictions.
• Haqparast to Win
Fakhretdinov vs Dalby Prediction
Rinat Fakhretdinov is a Russian MMA fighter who has 21 victories and 1 defeat (during his debut in 2013 when he fought twice in one night). Fakhretdinov is known for his aggressive fighting style and ability to control his opponents on the ground.
Nicolas Dalby is a Danish mixed martial arts fighter who has a record of 23 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Known for his versatile skillset, Nicolas has won numerous local championships throughout his career. He has incredible cardio, which was the main reason behind a good number of his wins in the past.
He's unbeaten in UFC and looking to stay that way 👏
Unfortunately, we have to side with Fakhretdinov for our Whittaker vs Aliskerov predictions. Rinat is 9 years younger than his opponent and has not lost since 2013. He will probably try to transfer Dalby at the start of every round and score points. We expect him to win via decision and the odds are quite impressive.
• Fakhretdinov to Win
Gadzhiyasulov vs Ribeiro Prediction
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov is an undefeated fighter from Dagestan with a professional record of 8-0. He made his professional MMA debut in 2017 and got an invitation to perform at DWCS after his impressive series of knockouts. This will be his UFC debut.
Brandson “Gorilla” Ribeiro is a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a professional record of 15-6. He also entered the roster through DWCS but lost his debut to Mingyang Zhang in February.
Gadzhiyasulov is considered a huge favorite ahead of this fight and we have to agree for our Whittaker vs Aliskerov predictions. While Ribeiro has a massive armspan advantage, the Russian’s wrestling skills are head and shoulders above those of the Brazilian. He should be able to transfer and dominate him on the ground.
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.
