UFC legend claims Robert Whittaker ‘better than most Hall of Famers’ ahead of risky main event bout against Ikram Aliskerov

Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6 main event, from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, sees perennial middleweight Robert Whittaker’s return. He faces exciting new opposition in Ikram Aliskerov as the event headliner. ‘The Reaper’ is infamous for his hellfire pacing even in five-round affairs. Yet, Aliskerov has the striking capability to match strike for strike. Nevertheless, it may not be enough.

So says Chael Sonnen, who hedges his bets around Whittaker. Sonnen states that the former middleweight champion fares historically better against grapplers than strikers. Yet, Robert Whittaker can hold his own well against both. ‘The American Gangster‘ knows this will play a prime factor this weekend while issuing huge praise for Whittaker.

Robert Whittaker is so good…[under breath] And…historically, does better against grapplers than he does against fellow strikers. I mean, you wanna see how good Robert Whittaker is, go replay him versus Yoel Romero…Part one or part two. Just go watch it. Oh my god! Robert Whittaker is better than most Hall of Famers. Not only he’d be in there, but he’d be a little more shiny than some others.
Chael Sonnen via his Official YT Channel (@ChaelSonnenOfficia)

His scrap against Yoel Romero saw him reap the ATT wrestler with prime striking and head kicks. Yet again, he went into a high-paced striking battle against another genetic beast, Paulo Costa. He edged out the Brazilian with a split score at the UFC 298 co-main PPV event at Honda Center in Anaheim. Sonnen thus considers the 33-year-old future Hall of Famer to have better instruments in this fight.

Ikram Aliskerov is no easy opponent; currently, on a 15-1 running streak, his lone blemish came to boogeyman Khamzat Chimaev. The Chechen was set to face Whittaker in a supposed title eliminator. To match staples like ‘Borz’ and Whittaker prove how good Aliskerov can turn out to be. But many, like Sonnen, consider the Aussie to win this.

Israel Adesanya has a prediction for Robert Whittaker’s run at Ikram Aliskerov

Israel Adesanya is gearing up to be a three-time UFC middleweight champion. He challenges Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 305 PPV main event. With the obnoxiously unpredictable forward pressure and weird striking Du Plessis has, Robert Whittaker predicts the South African fighter to bag a massive upset yet again. Subsequently, that is how the South African defeated him at UFC 290.

Robert Whittaker trusted to maul through Ikram Aliskerov at UFC on ABC 6 (Source: IMAGO/X)

However, Adesanya does not return the favor with vengeance. ‘The Last Stylebender’ still thinks Whittaker will run through Ikram Aliskerov at UFC on ABC 6. Adesanya has a history with the former middleweight titleholder. He beat him twice in title fights – once by knockout at UFC 243 and another in a close call decision win at UFC 271. Check out what Adesanya says about the Whittaker vs. Aliskerov matchup.

Adesanya expects Whittaker to take over and finish Aliskerov by the third or fourth round. The Aussie is widely famous for his surmounting pressure late in the game. Whittaker was offered clear No.1 contender implications at UFC on ABC 6. Now that it is overhauled, Adesanya thinks Whittaker will be on the hunt yet again. That is a dangerous notion when the guy on the opposite side is named ‘The Reaper.’