Robert Whittaker made it look easy against one of the UFC’s brightest young stars on Saturday night.
The former middleweight champion squared off against Ikram Aliskerov in the main event of the UFC’s first-ever event in Saudi Arabia.
Khabib Nurmagomedov backed his compatriot and long-time training partner as a ‘future star’ after he booked a late-notice fight with Whittaker when Khamzat Chimaev got sick.
‘The Reaper’ cracked him with a perfect straight right in round one.
Aliskerov did a funny dance, but Whittaker stayed cool before landing a big uppercut and a series of nasty ground strikes to close the show.
The MMA fan favourite celebrated wildly before giving an energetic post-fight interview to former dual-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier.
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“I told everybody, I’m the boogeyman,” Whittaker said.
“I’m the best in the world and I’m the most dangerous matchup for anyone in the division.
“I’m the best in the world. I’m the most dangerous middleweight in the world. I’ll take a fight anywhere, anytime.
“I’ve proved it tonight, I’ll prove it again, and I’ll fight anyone.”
Whittaker is now in pole position for a middleweight title shot.
Reigning 185lb king Dricus du Plessis will defend his middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia on August 17.
It’s currently unclear if Whittaker will be offered a spot on the card, which he’ll surely want to compete at as it’s so close to his home in Sydney.
Perhaps he’ll play a backup role for the middleweight main event.
News Summary:
- Robert Whittaker quickly knocks out Russian fighter dubbed ‘future star’ by Khabib Nurmagomedov
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