Last Chance at the Title: Whittaker Favored vs Aliskerov
Whittaker vs Aliskerov UFC Odds in Favor of Former Champ
Robert Whittaker and Ikran Aliskerov headline UFC Fight Night on Saturday, and it could be a “last chance saloon” for Whittaker. The Australian has fought for the middleweight title (since losing it) a couple of times and has come up short. He needs a win at all costs. The Whittaker vs Aliskerov UFC odds have him at -158 to beat the Russian, who is the replacement fighter for Khamzat Chimaev.
Whittaker Has a Point to Prove
A loss could end Whittaker’s chance of ever fighting for a title, but beating Aliskerov could see him face the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adensanya.
The New Zealand-Australian star comes off a win over Paolo Costa at UFC 298, and although Costa doesn’t know how to win anymore, he’s still a tough opponent. It followed a knockout loss to du Plessis, and although he was no match for the South African’s power, Aliskerov was a much different opponent.
Aliskerov will look to grapple and wear down Whittaker, but the 33-year-old rarely gets fatigued, and this fight looks right up his alley.
Adesanya, who has fought Whittaker on multiple occasions, believes his ANZAC ally will win.
“I like this fight. It’s a banger of a fight,” Adesanya said. “But also, this guy (Aliskerov), who did he last beat? Warlley Alves. Big step up in competition, though, against Rob. Rob, a former champion, is still on a hunt, still dangerous. I’m picking Rob in this fight. I think Rob’s going to beat the brakes off this guy.”
The Whittaker vs Aliskerov UFC odds are right to have him at -155. He could have been shorter, so it’s a value line in the sportsbook. His UFC results speak for themselves, and although he hasn’t been as destructive over the last few years, he’s still near the top of his game.
Is Aliskerov Up to the Mark?
The Russian wave in the UFC continues, but is Aliskerov on the same level? He has been given a big opportunity to show his worth on Saturday against a formidable opponent, so the 15-1 fighter looks to make the most of it.
The 31-year-old has had several canceled fights against the likes of Antonio Trocoli, Andre Muniz, and Anthony Hernandez. His most recent fight was a knockout win over Warlley Aves in October, which followed a KO win over Phil Hawes.
He hasn’t fought anyone close to the likes of Whittaker, but his knockout wins have been impressive, especially for someone best trained in wrestling. It shows his power, and despite his UFC schedule being marred by non-fights, he could turn up to Saudi Arabia with his best.
Aliskerov is the outsider at +130 with the Whittaker vs Aliskerov UFC odds, and he’s giving his opponent plenty of respect.
“I think he brings almost a higher level of threat than Chimaev did because his skillset is very well rounded. He’s got some really good hands, and he’s a guy with a mindset now that he has nothing to lose, only everything to gain, and that’s super dangerous,” Aliskerov said.
The jury is out on whether Aliskerov is up to fighting Whittaker, but after two explosive victories in the UFC, he’s worthy of the chance.
Whittaker to Grind Out Win
We can’t see the main event ending before the final bell, so we’re picking Whittaker to win by decision. He’s great at getting decision wins, and his work rate is better than most middleweight fighters in the UFC.
The -155 is a fair price for a former champion, who has class on his side, and he seems fired up for this fight.
Aliskerov was called up on short notice, and fighting Whittaker without a full camp is a recipe for danger.
We’re backing Whittaker to win at -155 and by decision at +250. It’s a generous price with prop markets, and it’s worth taking the over in total rounds.
Unless Aliskerov lands a big early punch, we expect it to go five rounds. Whittaker is a good defensive risk, and we can’t see him taking any risks in this fight.
