The UFC is at Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for tomorrow’s UFC Saudi Arabia battle card on ABC. In the principle occasion, of the Saturday, June 22 battle card, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker faces Ikram Aliskerov in an 185-pound contest. Within the night’s co-headlining matchup, top-five ranked fighters, Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov meet in a heavyweight bout.
The primary card for tomorrow’s UFC Struggle Evening occasion begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC, following prelims on ESPN at midday ET.
The UFC had initially scheduled Whittaker to face Khamzat Chimaev in the principle occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia, however that battle fell aside when sickness prevented Chimaev from competing. Aliskerov, who was coaching for a battle on this previous Saturday’s UFC Vegas 93 battle card, was moved to the Saudi Arabia occasion.
Whittaker is the No. 3 fighter within the official UFC middleweight rankings forward of the battle card. Aliskerov, who has two UFC fights on his document, is unranked within the UFC’s 185-pound weight division.
Whittaker (25-7) has alternated wins and losses over his previous 5 journeys to the Octagon along with his setbacks coming to Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis. His most up-to-date battle got here in February when he defeated Paulo Costa by resolution.
Aliskerov (15-1) has solely been with the UFC since Might 2023. He’s 2-0 with the promotion with two first-round knockout wins. He’s coming off an October “Efficiency of the Evening” bonus-winning stoppage over Warlley Alves.
UFC Saudi Arabia Odds, Picks and Predictions
UFC Saudi Arabia Predominant Occasion: Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
The chances for tomorrow’s fundamental occasion are pretty tight, however it’s no shock to see the previous UFC champion because the betting favourite over his late-replacement opponent. Whittaker opened at —150 and is now -160, whereas Aliskerov noticed opening odds of +125. He’s now listed at +130.
Extra bets have are available on the underdog (52 p.c), however many of the cash is on the ex-champ (52 p.c).
Aliskerov is kind of in a freeroll scenario on Saturday. He has nothing to lose. Nonetheless, Whittaker is extra skilled and has fought a lot better competitors. The betting decide is for Whittaker to win by way of resolution, however there’s betting worth in choosing Aliskerov to win by way of knockout.
UFC Saudi Arabia C0-Predominant Occasion: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
This heavyweight bout is a high-stakes matchup. Each males are ranked inside the highest 5 and with no thought as to if/when Jon Jones goes to return, this bout has plenty of that means.
Pavlovich, who’s coming off a loss to Tom Aspinall for the interim UFC heavyweight crown, opened because the -210 betting favourite over Volkov, who was +170 at opening. Pavlovich is -250 as battle night time nears, and Volkov is +195. Fifty-eight p.c of the bets are on Volkov pulling off the upset, however 61 p.c of the cash is on Pavlovich.
The betting decide is for Pavlovich to choose up the win.
UFC Saudi Arabia: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
The massive information across the Gastelum vs. Rodriguez battle is that the UFC booked the matchup at welterweight, however the promotion was pressured to maneuver it to middleweight as a result of Gastelum got here into battle week to heavy. That’s not nice information for Gastelum.
Gastelum opened because the -250 betting favourite and he stays the -225 favourite. As for Rodriguez, he opened at +190 and is now +185. These wagering on the battle are Rodriguez, who has 79 p.c of the bets and 74 p.c of the deal with on him.
The decide is to go together with the underdog.
UFC Saudi Arabia: Shara Magomedov vs. Antonio Trocoli
It is a very late alternative battle as Magomedov’s opponent Joilton Lutterbach failed a drug take a look at. The UFC drafted Trocoli a couple of days from battle night time. The present odds on this battle favor Magomedov (-650) over Trocoli (+475). With such lopsided odds, it’s not a shock to see extra bets (78 p.c) and cash (84 p.c) coming in on Trocoli.
The betting decide is Magomedov.
UFC Saudi Arabia: Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir
The opening battle on the UFC Saudi Arabia fundamental card is a lightweight heavyweight scrap between Walker and Oezdemir. Walker is the No. 7 ranked fighter within the division and Oezdemir checks in at No. 9.
The chances on this battle have gotten a lot tighter. When betting opened, Walker was a -145 favourite over the +120 Oezdemir. Each males at the moment are listed at -110 in a decide ‘em. Extra bets have are available on Walker (60 p.c), and the deal with can be in his favor (69 p.c)
It is a robust matchup to foretell, however the guess is on Oezdemir to win.
UFC Saudi Arabia Prop Bets
1Nicolas Dalby in spherical 3 (+2500)
Sergei Pavlovich by KO/TKO or DQ (-150)
Robert Whittaker by KO/TKO or DQ (+175)
Alexander Volkov by Submission (+1300)
Nicolas Dalby in spherical 2 (+2000)
* All data by way of BetMGM. Info on particular person battle bets are for straight bets solely.
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