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UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov
The poster for UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJune 22, 2024 (2024-06-22)
VenueKingdom Arena
CityRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2

UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov (also known as UFC on ABC 6) is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on June 22, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[1]

Background[edit]

The promotion was originally expected to make its Saudi Arabia debut at an event on March 2, 2024,[2][3] but on January 24, Saudi Arabia's chairman of General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh announced the event had been officially postponed until this date, citing "a decision to reschedule was taken to ensure the best caliber of talent will be available to participate".[1]

A middleweight title eliminator bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev was expected to headline the event.[4] However, Chimaev withdrew due to an illness and was replaced by Ikram Aliskerov, who was scheduled to fight a week earlier at UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira.[5]

A middleweight bout between Sharabutdin Magomedov and Ihor Potieria was expected to take place at the event.[4] However, Potieria was pulled to face Michel Pereira at UFC 301.[6] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Joilton Lutterbach.[7] In turn, Lutterbach was pulled out on June 19 by the anti-doping commission because of a substance found in his urine and replaced by Antonio Trocoli, who was scheduled to face Aliskerov a week earlier.[8]

Said Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Montel Jackson in a bantamweight bout.[9] However, Nurmagomedov pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Farid Basharat.[10] In turn, it was reported that Basharat was unable to compete due to an injury and the bout was scrapped.[11][12]

Abu Azaitar was scheduled to face Denis Tiuliulin in a middleweight bout.[13] However, Azaitar was replaced by Sedriques Dumas due to an injury.[12] In turn, the bout between Dumas and Tiuliulin has been postponed to another date due to flight reasons related to Dumas.[14]

A featherweight bout between Muhammad Naimov and Melsik Baghdasaryan was expected to take place at the main card.[15] However, Baghdasaryan pulled out during fight week due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder.[16] He was replaced by Felipe Lima.[17]

Former interim UFC Middleweight Championship challenger (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen middleweight winner) Kelvin Gastelum and Daniel Rodriguez were originally scheduled to meet in a welterweight bout, but it was changed to middleweight during fight week as Gastelum had issues cutting weight.[18]

Fight card[edit]

Fight card (ABC / ESPN+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
Middleweight Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Antonio Trocoli
Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Lightweight Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jared Gordon
Featherweight Muhammad Naimov vs. Felipe Lima
Welterweight Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nicolas Dalby
Bantamweight Kang Kyung-ho vs. Muin Gafurov
Light Heavyweight Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Bantamweight Xiao Long vs. Lee Chang-ho [a]

[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Nolan King (2024-01-24). "Saudi Arabia announces new date for inaugural UFC event in Riyadh". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  2. ^ Mike Bohn (2023-10-11). "UFC announces inaugural Saudi Arabia event coming in March 2024". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  3. ^ Damon Martin (2023-10-11). "UFC books first card in Saudi Arabia for March 2024". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  4. ^ a b Damon Martin (2024-03-28). "Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker set as main event, 4 more fights announced for UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  5. ^ Mike Bohn (2024-06-13). "Khamzat Chimaev out; Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov set as new UFC on ABC 6 headliner". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  6. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2024-04-09). "Ihor Potieria steps in to fight Michel Pereira at UFC 301". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  7. ^ Staff (2024-05-20). "'Bullet' booking: Shara Magomedov gets 48-fight veteran newcomer for UFC Saudi Arabia". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  8. ^ Danny Segura (2024-06-19). "Shara Magomedov gets new opponent for Saturday's UFC on ABC 6". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  9. ^ David Andrew (2024-04-06). "Montel Jackson vs. Said Nurmagomedov booked for UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  10. ^ Mike Heck (2024-05-20). "UFC Saudi Arabia adds several bouts for Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  11. ^ Alexander Behunin (2024-06-14). "Disaster! UFC Saudi Arabia loses another fight". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  12. ^ a b Staff (2024-06-14). "Updates to UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov". ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  13. ^ Harvey Leonard (2024-05-26). "UFC matchmaking bulletin (5/20-5/26): Shara 'Bullet' Magomedov gets new opponent for UFC Saudi Arabia". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  14. ^ Jay Anderson (2024-06-17). "SD Dumas says he's out of UFC Saudia Arabia fight with Denis Tiuliulin". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  15. ^ Diego Martinez (2024-04-09). "Muhammad Naimov vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan booked for UFC on ABC 6". mmaaldia.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09. (in Spanish)
  16. ^ Alexander K. Lee (2024-06-17). "Melsik Baghdasaryan out of UFC Saudi Arabia due to injury". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  17. ^ Jay Anderson (2024-06-17). "Oktagon champ Felipe Lima steps in against Muhammad Naimov at UFC Saudi Arabia". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  18. ^ Farah Hannoun (2024-06-20). "Daniel Rodriguez agrees to 185 pounds after Kelvin Gastelum admits struggle to make 170 for UFC Saudi Arabia". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  19. ^ "UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2024-03-28.

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