The UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia took a critical blow with Khamzat Chimaev out of the main event. Many fans awaited the return of ‘Borz.’ It was a true test, considering the Chechen fighter would face his toughest competition to date against Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 6. Now, on the notion of being “violently ill,” Chimaev has pulled out.
Replacing Khamzat Chimaev on the top bill is former opponent Ikram Aliskerov. CEO Dana White took to his socials to inform the change in the lineup. Instead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 58 feature co-main with Antonio Trocoli, Ikram Aliskerov meets ‘The Reaper’ instead. Moreover, the UFC CEO confirmed the undefeated middleweight became seriously ill to compete on the first-ever Saudi Arabia card.
Chimaev has struggled to find a steady pace after a record-breaking three-win streak UFC career debut within 66 days. He last outpointed Kamaru Usman to a majority decision at UFC 294 this past October. The wrestler fought just once in the past two years. His short-notice matchmaking against Usman was quite the billing. One would reckon a similar effort went behind cueing Aliskerov in.
Whittaker, in turn, was agreeable to accept an alternate fighter at UFC on ABC 6. Taking to social media, he touted being ready for “anyone, anywhere, anytime.” Coincidentally, Alsikerov will replace Chimaev. Previously, Aliskerov lost to Chimaev in the Brave Combat Federation via first-round knockout. Since then, Aliskerov has defeated everyone in his path.
With Khamzat Chimaev out of UFC Saudi Arabia, coach posts major health update
Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is a reckoning storm when it comes to explosive scraps. However, his last few outings have been unable to goad in any fan sympathy. He exhausted himself and broke his hand in the very first round against Usman. Gassing out in later rounds remains a valuable concern.
Khamzat Chimaev is out of his middleweight bout at UFC on ABC 6 (Source: agfight.com/Instagram)Meanwhile, the Aussie middleweight is a former titleholder. Hence, Robert Whittaker is more prone to five-round affairs. Even then, he told co-hosts Kacoer Rosolowski and Denis Skhuratov of Submission Radio that he didn’t wish for a five-round prolonged affair against ‘Borz.’ Betting sites had the Chechen as a betting favorite despite limited appearances.
However, the 30-year-old’s hype train yet against comes to a still with a possible injury. Coach Mukhammad Eskirkhanov shared the following image of the fighter in a hospital backdrop on his IG stories. He tagged Chimaev in the post, while he isn’t visibly within the spectrum. Dana White has since collaborated on this, stating that Chimaev has become “violently ill.”
While the UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event hit a snag, the rest of UFC on ABC 6 goes forward. Robert Whittaker now faces 15-1 middleweight Ikram Aliskerov next weekend. Aliskerov’s initial opponent at UFC Vegas 93, Antonio Trocoli, will now take on Gregory Rodriguez in the co-mains of this weekend’s event (Saturday, June 15).
