New odds have been released for Saturday’s UFC main event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following the withdrawal of Khamzat Chimaev due to illness. Robert Whittaker will remain in the headliner and is currently a favorite over late replacement Ikram Aliskerov, who is a slight underdog at .
When the UFC announced Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev as the main event in Saudi Arabia, UFC sportsbooks had the former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker as a +140 underdog in the bout, with the undefeated Chimaev listed as a -166 favorite. Aliskerov stepped up as a late replacement for Chimaev, but he already put in a full training camp in preparation for a bout at last week’s UFC Fight Night that was ultimately called off.
The new matchup is now the headliner for the UFC on ABC event from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
UFC Saudi Arabia: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov betting odds
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Whittaker (25-7) is coming off a convincing decision win over former title contender Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in February. Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion, suffered a TKO loss to current middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis in his previous bout, just his third defeat as a middleweight. At 33, Whittaker has plenty of miles on him as a fighter. He’s still sharp and extremely well-rounded, with no obvious holes in his game. He’s spent the last several years fighting nothing but the cream of the crop at middleweight – at least until now, when he fights his lowest-profile opponent in at least eight years.
Aliskerov (15-1) is largely unknown to most fans, but that doesn’t mean he’s inconsequential. He made his UFC debut last year after, and has since had two fights in the octagon. He won both those fights via first-round knockout, but neither opponent was anywhere near Whittaker’s quality or experience. The toughest opponent Aliskerov has faced to date is actually Chimaev, who he fought in 2019 when both men were making their way through the smaller promotions. That first-round knockout loss is still the only stain on Aliskerov’s record.
UFC Saudi Arabia full fight card
| Robert Whittaker | Ikram Aliskerov |
| Sergei Pavlovich | Alexander Volkov |
| Kelvin Gastelum | Daniel Rodriguez |
| Johnny Walker | Volkan Oezdemir |
| Nazrat Haqparast | Jared Gordon |
| Rinat Fakhretdinov | Nicolas Dalby |
| Kang Kyung-ho | Muin Gafurov |
| Magomed Gadzhiyasulov | Brendson Ribeiro |
How to watch UFC Saudi Arabia:
- Date: June 22
- Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Prelims: Noon ET, ESPN/ESPN+
- Main card: 3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+
