Robert Whittaker is treating Ikram Aliskerov similar to he would Khamzat Chimaev, or any of his opponents: because the hardest doable take a look at he could possibly be dealing with.
A late opponent change sees the previous middleweight champion now taking over Aliskerov in Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia essential occasion. Whittaker was initially to struggle the undefeated Chimaev, however an sickness compelled Chimaev out of the competition, which led to the matchmakers pulling Aliskerov out of final weekend’s UFC Vegas 93 co-main occasion and inserting him into the Whittaker struggle.
A lot was product of what it might imply for Whittaker to be the primary to beat Chimaev and whether or not he’d earn one other shot at UFC gold, however Whittaker is concentrated solely on the lesser recognized Aliskerov.
“My greatest concern was ensuring that the struggle occurred, was going by with the struggle,” Whittaker stated at UFC Saudi Arabia media day. “My greatest concern now’s beating Ikram.”
“He’s very a lot a harmful opponent,” he continued. “You possibly can take a look at it on paper that he is likely to be extra harmful [than Chimaev] due to how well-rounded he’s, however actually, each struggle brings a stage of menace and a stage of hazard that needs to be addressed.”
Chimaev and Aliskerov really fought each other in 2019, a yr earlier than Chimaev burst onto the UFC scene. That Courageous Fight Federation encounter was temporary, however aggressive, with Chimaev finally prevailing through knockout.
Since that point, Chimaev’s star has continued to rise, and he’d seemingly have earned a title shot by now at both welterweight or middleweight had been it not for well being issues which have repeatedly precipitated the fighter to withdraw from bouts. Whittaker isn’t upset that he’s the most recent to overlook out on a struggle with Chimaev, and he feels there’s so much his staff did in camp that can apply to his substitute foe.
“I’m not likely frightened about it an excessive amount of, who I’m combating, I’m going to be sincere,” Whittaker stated. “I’m right here to struggle. I used to be match, I used to be prepared, and that is how I present for my household. Everybody knew I needed to struggle. I’m right here, so I’m going to struggle.”
“By this stage within the camp, all of the work’s been finished,” he continued. “I’m match, I’m sturdy, I’m sharp, and all the abilities that I labored for Chimaev, no ability is wasted, no ability is ineffective. Plenty of it may be used on this struggle, so all of the work’s been finished. I’m prepared.”
A win over Chimaev would have firmly pushed Whittaker to the entrance of the middleweight contenders’ line, the place he would await the winner of the UFC 305 headliner between champion Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. Each fighters maintain wins over Whittaker, however the former champion has not too long ago knocked off ranked opponents Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori.
Chimaev is out of the image for the foreseeable future and there’s no assure a win over Aliskerov holds the identical weight within the eyes of the followers nor the UFC. Regardless, Whittaker expects victory to convey the right spoils, whether or not that’s a title shot or one other probability to struggle Chimaev.
“The one certain factor within the UFC is that profitable opens doorways,” Whittaker stated. “My focus is solely on this Saturday evening, getting my hand raised, and I’ll fear about the remainder afterwards.”
“If [Chimaev is] round on the high of the sport and I’m round on the high of the sport, our paths will cross,” he continued. “I don’t have any explicit opponents that I look to struggle. It’s simply they provide me a reputation and I say sure after which we’re right here.”
