Robert Whittaker has a new opponent, but the stakes in his next fight are just as high.
The former middleweight champion headlines Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia event against up-and-coming challenger Ikram Aliskerov. Whittaker was looking to score a statement win over Khamzat Chimaev in the hopes of earning another shot at UFC gold, but Chimaev was forced to withdraw due to illness. Aliskerov now steps into the main event spot on short notice.