UFC Riyadh Payouts: Big Money for Whittaker and Aliskerov in Saudi

Some of the most exciting names in the UFC scene are set to butt heads at the UFC Fight Night in Riyadh this weekend. Before the Octagon roars with this clash of titans, we delve into the UFC Riyadh payouts. Read on for a look at who’s getting what, particularly the highly anticipated main event featuring former middleweight king Robert Whittaker and rising star Ikram Aliskerov.

UFC Fighter Pay: What Will Whittaker and Aliskerov Be Paid at UFC Saudi Arabia?

A last-minute shuffle throws a wild card into the UFC Saudi Arabia mix! Originally slated to face Khamzat Chimaev, Robert Whittaker now finds himself squaring off against Ikram Aliskerov. 

Chimaev's illness forced a change of plans, with Aliskerov stepping in after his own bout at UFC Vegas 93 was scrapped. Nonetheless, “the Reaper” will be hoping to bag lucrative UFC bonuses and payout in the Saudi Arabian capital. 

The stakes are high, and so are the expected UFC payouts for this main event middleweight clash between Robert Whittaker and Ikram Aliskerov.

Whittaker will be looking to bounce back after a second-round TKO loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290 last July. However, he showed his resilience with a dominant win over Paulo Costa via unanimous decision at UFC 298 this February.

Aliskerov, on the other hand, is riding high on a first-round TKO victory at UFC 294 back in October. He demolished Warlley Alves, showcasing his explosive striking and earning a “Performance of the Night” bonus.

For the Russian, this fight is a golden ticket! A win over the former champion Whittaker could send him rocketing into the middleweight division's elite.

Whittaker's payday is expected to be a significant jump from his recent fights. But the real story might be Ikram Aliskerov. 

Stepping in on short notice could land him a career-high payout, a major boost for the unranked fighter. While Whittaker earned a hefty $250,000 despite the loss to Dricus du Plessis, his win bonus against Paulo Costa was a whopping $400,000.

Aliskerov earned a minimum of $50k for his first-round TKO win over Warlley Alves. The Russian was also assured an $81k purse for his fight with Antonio Trocoli, which was slated for last week.

We are expecting the UFC Riyadh payouts to be generous, so the overall UFC fighter pay for this particular fight could be in the region of $750k. 

Whittaker should take $500k, while Aliskerov could be rewarded with a $250k paycheck. 

UFC Payouts: What the Rest of the Card Can Expect

The co-main event will feature Russian duo Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov, earning them a considerable portion of the UFC Saudi Arabia prize money. We expect a purse akin to Whittaker and Aliskerov's, with possible differences in distribution.

Pavlovich, who boasts a perfect record inside the octagon, could be entitled to the larger portion of the purse. We expect him to bank $450k. Volkov, who has been involved in some high-paying fights lately, will score $300k. 

Here’s what the rest of the main card could make:

• Kelvin Gastelum: 60k

• Daniel Rodriguez: 90k

• Shara Magomodev: 80k

• Antonio Trocoli: 40k

• Johnny Walker: 200k

• Volkan Oezdamir: 150k