UFC Saudi Arabia live blog: Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov

This is the live blog for Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov, the middleweight headliner for Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia card in Riyadh – the promotion’s first-ever trip to Saudi Arabia.

Aliskerov starts the fight on nine days’ notice, replacing Khamzat Chimaev, who had to withdraw due to illness.

Whittaker has turned around wins and losses over his past five appearances in the Octagon and put himself back in title contention with a decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in February. The former 185-pound champion faced current defending champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290 last July and was stopped in the second round, as well as losing two title matches to then-champion Israel Adesanya.

Aliskerov enters the biggest fight of his career on an impressive seven-fight win streak, and has not seen a second-round exit in any of his UFC outings, earning quick finishes of Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves.

Watch the live blog from the UFC Saudi Arabia main event below.