UFC Fight Night on ESPN – Australian UFC star Robert Whittaker takes the next step towards a shot at the UFC Middleweight championship this Sunday at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov on ESPN.
The UFC heads to Saudi Arabia for the first time headlined by #3 ranked Middleweight Whittaker facing off against Russian Ikram Aliskerov.
Whittaker was initially scheduled to challenge the dangerous Khamzat Chimaev, but Aliskerov was brought in as a replacement after Chimaev withdrew through illness.
The UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov Main Card is LIVE on ESPN this Sunday June 23 at 5am AEST.
After being defeated by current UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis last July, Whittaker responded with a convincing unanimous points victory over Paulo Costa.
Sunday’s fight is the 22nd in Whittaker’s career and victory could secure him a third shot at UFC gold.
Aliskerov has seven first round finishes in his 15 career MMA fights, including two successive first round knockout victories since entering the UFC.
The Russian earned a UFC contract following his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Sunday’s co-main event is a heavyweight showdown between #3 heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich and #5 contender Alexander Volkov.
Pavlovich makes his return to the Octagon after fighting for the UFC interim heavyweight championship in November. That occasion ended in defeat to Tom Aspinall, a loss that snapped Pavlovich’s impressive six-fight win streak.
Alexander Volkov has amounted a winning run of his own inside the Octagon, accounting for Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexander Romanov and Australia’s Tai Tuivasa in recent fights.
Also on the main card, UFC championship contender Kelvin Gastelum battles Daniel Rodriguez.
Now competing in the UFC Welterweight division, Gastelum hopes to mount a charge into the top ranked fighters in the division.
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov main card begins LIVE at 5am AEST Sunday June 23 on ESPN, with the Whittaker-Aliskerov fight expected to begin around 7am AEST.
This week ESPN’s UFC Fight Camp premieres a Robert Whittaker special feature, looking back on the biggest moments of his career, including his win over Paulo Costa at UFC 298 and preparations for UFC: Whittaker vs Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia.
Hosted by ESPN’s Phil Murphy and Arda Ocal, the pair will be joined by MMA insider Brett Okamoto, MMA analyst Ian Parker and former UFC contender Megan Anderson.
UFC Fight Camp will also provide fans with exclusive access, interviews and expert analysis during fight week with in-depth preview of UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov, as well as hear from Australian UFC star Jake Matthews.
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov
Thursday June 20
4pm AEST, UFC Fight Camp: Robert Whittaker Special, ESPN
Saturday June 22
7.30am AEST, UFC Fight Camp: Robert Whittaker Special, ESPN
8am AEST, UFC Live: Whittaker vs Aliskerov, ESPN2
5pm AEST, UFC 225: Whittaker vs Romero II Replay, ESPN2
8pm AEST, UFC Fight Camp: Robert Whittaker Special, ESPN2
Sunday June 23
2am AEST, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov – Prelims, ESPN
5am AEST, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov – Main Card , ESPN
11am AEST, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov – Prelims, ESPN (Replay)
2pm AEST, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskerov – Main Card, ESPN (Replay)
ESPN and ESPN2 is available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
Media Release – ESPN
Link to ESPN HERE
TV Central ESPN content HERE
RelatedPosts
