There are ranges to the MMA recreation, and Robert Whittaker despatched that message to everybody within the UFC’s middleweight division on Saturday afternoon in Saudi Arabia.

You can’t merely drop a man in on quick discover and count on him to offer me a struggle.

Whittaker wasted no time destroying short-notice substitute Ikram Aliskerov on the major occasion of the UFC Saudi Arabia. Whittaker initially damage Aliskerov with a straight proper hand, however he in the end completed the cope with an uppercut and two follow-up punches earlier than referee Marc Goddard stepped in to name a halt to the struggle.

Check out the end:

Whittaker had all the pieces to lose on this struggle.

He was initially set to face Khamzat Chimaev, however the latter pulled out of the struggle final week after getting meals poisoning. Aliskerov, whose solely earlier defeat got here in opposition to Chimaev earlier than each males arrived within the UFC, was faraway from a co-main occasion spot in final week’s UFC Vegas 93 card and upgraded to the spot in opposition to Whittaker.

It didn’t take lengthy to see that the 31-year-old Russian was out of his league. Aliskerov, a promising and proficient contender, might get a struggle with one other middleweight sitting simply exterior the highest 15 in his subsequent bout.

Whereas he was not prepared for the obligation he was pressed into on Saturday, he nonetheless holds nice potential for future success within the division. Whittaker, who earned one of many Efficiency of the Evening Bonuses for his work, ought to maintain securely because the No. 3 middleweight on the planet.

He’d doubtless like to get a title shot in his subsequent struggle, and he’d additionally doubtless say sure to a struggle with Sean Strickland, with the winner getting a battle in opposition to the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis.

A number of MMA shops appear to agree {that a} Whittaker-Strickland struggle is essentially the most logical and thrilling subsequent step for the division.

The Adesanya-Du Plessis struggle is scheduled for August 17 at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.

The Australia-born Whittaker volunteered to be a possible substitute fighter for both man ought to the principle occasion want somebody to step in. Whittaker has misplaced to Adesanya twice and Du Plessis as soon as, so it is sensible to be behind Strickland in line.

Strickland beat Adesanya and misplaced his title to Du Plessis in a controversial break up choice earlier this yr. It doesn’t matter what occurs subsequent for Whittaker, he has positioned himself for a considerable alternative in his subsequent struggle.

Alexander Volkov Makes Simple Work of a Salty Sergei Pavlovich

In a battle between two Russian former coaching companions, the veteran Alexander Volkov showcased his superior expertise.

His use of his attain, exact jabs, and well-timed aspect kicks not solely earned him factors but additionally inflicted vital cumulative injury to his opponent’s face, resulting in a decisive unanimous choice win.

After the struggle, Volkov went to Pavlovich to indicate respect, and the latter shoved him away in frustration.

Have a look:

Volkov has now received three fights in a row, and Pavlovich, as soon as the most well liked heavyweight contender within the UFC, has misplaced two in a row.

UFC Saudi Arabia Bonus Winners

POTN: Robert Whittaker, Shara Magomedov, Alexander Volkov and Felipe Lima

Whittaker deserved his bonus. Shara Magomedov earned a bonus with a third-round TKO win over a late substitute in Antonio Trocoli.

Volkov’s demolition of Pavlovich earned one of many bonuses, and he may at the least get a shot on the interim title. Lastly, Felipe Lima received impressively with a third-round submission victory over Muhammad Naimov within the prelims.

Listed here are the outcomes from the UFC’s first-ever occasion in Saudi Arabia, with scorecards and end highlights.

UFC Saudi Arabia Outcomes, Scorecards and Highlights

• Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov by way of first-round KO
• Alexander Volkov def. Sergei Pavlovich by way of unanimous choice (30-27×2, 29-28)

• Kelvin Gastelum def. Daniel Rodriguez by way of unanimous choice (30-27×2, 29-28)

• Shara Magomedov def. Antonio Trocoli by way of third-round KO

• Volkan Oezdemir def. Johnny Walker by way of first-round KO

• Nasrat Haqparast defeats Jared Gordon by way of break up choice (28-29, 29-28 x2)

• Felipe Lima def. Muhammad Naimov – submission (rear-naked choke) – Spherical 3, 1:15

• Rinat Fakhretdinov (29-28, 29-28) def. Nicolas Dalby by Cut up Determination

• Muin Gafurov def. Kyun Ho Kang by way of unanimous choice (30-27×3)

• Magomed Gadzhiyasulov def. Brendson Ribeiro by way of majority choice (29-28×2, 28-28)

• Chang Ho Lee def. Lengthy Xiao by way of break up choice to win Street to UFC: Asia (29-28×2, 28-29)