Robert Whittaker is still a major member of the UFC’s middleweight elite.
The former champion stopped replacement opponent Ikram Aliskerov with a vicious KO in the first round of the rising star on the UFC card in Saudi Arabia, improving his record to 26-7. The loss ended a seven-fight winning streak for Aliskerov.
Whittaker rocked Aliskerov with a hard right hand a few minutes into the fight, ultimately landing the Russian with an uppercut that dropped him to the mat.
Aliskerov was included in the fight as a replacement for fellow rising star Khamzat Chimaev who withdrew from the main event due to illness, part of a wave of high-profile withdrawals from the UFC.
Still, it’s an impressive win for Whittaker. The UFC has seen many champions suddenly fall after losing their titles, but that simply hasn’t happened to the Australian. Since 2014, the only fighters to beat him are current UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and former champion Israel Adesanya, with three wins against top-10 opponents.
Whittaker now has some options in a division that has seen some change as of late. He’s still looking for a title shot and a rematch against du Plessis, but a fight against Sean Strickland, another former champion, could also be an attractive option. At worst, he’ll pose a brutal challenge to any upstart the UFC wants to throw at him.
