Ikram Aliskerov has spoken out after suffering a first-round knockout loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia.
Aliskerov, who stepped in as a late replacement for Khamzat Chimaev, faced Whittaker in a highly anticipated bout. Despite high expectations, Aliskerov was unable to challenge Whittaker effectively. “The Reaper” landed a powerful uppercut that knocked Aliskerov down, followed by a series of ground punches that secured Whittaker’s victory.
Aliskerov, who previously had only one loss to Chimaev, addressed the defeat on social media.
On his ‘X’ account, he expressed no regrets and acknowledged the experience gained from facing one of the sport’s best. He promised to learn from his mistakes and return stronger, thanking his supporters for their encouragement.
“Alhamdulilla, no excuses. I don’t regret anything. It was a big experience against one of the best in the sport. I’m young, I’ll work on my mistakes, learn and get back into business soon. Thank you to everyone for support messages,” Aliskerov posted.
This defeat interrupted Aliskerov’s impressive seven-fight winning streak. While the loss is a setback, losing to a former UFC middleweight champion in his prime is a small consolation.
Whittaker’s victory likely positions him as a backup for the UFC 305 main event featuring Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. As for Aliskerov, he will need to reassess and improve his strategy before his next appearance in the Octagon.
