The UFC made a spectacular debut in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, June 22nd, with UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov delivering an action-packed night of fights at the Kingdom Arena.
In the highly anticipated main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker showcased his striking prowess, knocking out Ikram Aliskerov in the first round with a devastating combination of uppercuts and ground punches. Whittaker, nicknamed "The Reaper," reminded fans why he is considered one of the top contenders in the division.
The co-main event saw Alexander Volkov secured a unanimous decision victory over Sergei Pavlovich in a heavyweight battle of attrition.
Among others in the main card, Kelvin Gastelum returned to form, defeating Daniel Rodriguez via unanimous decision in a thrilling welterweight bout. Shara Magomedov delivered a highlight-reel knockout, finishing Antonio Trócoli with a vicious left hook in the third round. Volkan Oezdemir made a statement in the light heavyweight division, knocking out Johnny Walker with a single uppercut in the first round.
In the prelims, Nasrat Haqparast edged out Jared Gordon via split decision in a lightweight contest.
Felipe Lima securing a third-round submission victory over Muhammad Naimov in the featherweight division. Rinat Fakhretdinov and Muin Gafurov earning hard-fought split and unanimous decision victories, respectively.
The event also marked the finals of the Road to UFC tournament, with Chang Ho Lee defeating Long Xiao in a split decision to earn a UFC contract.
The UFC's first venture into Saudi Arabia was a resounding success, with thrilling fights and finishes from start to finish. The event showcased the global appeal of the sport and set the stage for future UFC events in the region. With a mix of established veterans and emerging talent, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov solidified the organization's commitment to expanding its reach and delivering world-class mixed martial arts action to fans around the world.
Here are the Full Results of UFC Saudi Arabia
MAIN EVENT | MIDDLEWEIGHT · 185 LBS | PRO MMA
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Whittaker defeats Aliskerov via KO/TKO, Uppercut to Ground Punches at 1:49 Round 1 of 5
CO-MAIN EVENT | HEAVYWEIGHT · 265 LBS | PRO MMA
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
Volkov defeats Pavlovich via Unanimous Decision
MAIN CARD | WELTERWEIGHT · 170 LBS | PRO MMA
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Gastelum defeats Rodriguez via unanimous decision
MAIN CARD | MIDDLEWEIGHT · 185 LBS | PRO MMA
Shara Magomedov vs. Antonio Trócoli
Magomedov defeats Trócoli via KO/TKO, Left Hook at 2:27 Round 3 of 3
MAIN CARD | LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT · 205 LBS | PRO MMA
Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Oezdemir defeats Walker via KO/TKO, Uppercut at 2:28 Round 1 of 3
PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jared Gordon
Haqparast defeats Gordon via split decision
PRELIMINARY CARD | FEATHERWEIGHT · 145 LBS | PRO MMA
Muhammad Naimov vs. Felipe Lima
Lima defeats Naimov via Submission RnC at 1:15 Round 3 of 3
PRELIMINARY CARD | WELTERWEIGHT · 170 LBS | PRO MMA
Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nicolas Dalby
Fakhretdinov defeats Dalby via Split Decision
PRELIMINARY CARD | BANTAMWEIGHT · 135 LBS | PRO MMA
Muin Gafurov vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Gafurov defeats Kang via Unanimous Decision
PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT · 205 LBS | PRO MMA
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Gadzhiyasulov defeats Ribeiro via majority decision
PRELIMINARY CARD | TOURNAMENT FINALS | 135 LBS | PRO MMA
Long Xiao vs. Chang Ho Lee
Lee defeats Xiao via Split decision to win a UFC contract