It’s been a wild ride for UFC fans with the cancellation of not just one, but two highly anticipated match-ups! UFC CEO Dana White sent shockwaves through the MMA world when he recently announced on social media that Conor McGregor and Khamzat Chimaev are both out of their fights at UFC 303 and UFC Fight Night: Saudi Arabia, respectively. However, the promotion and the boss have made sure the events go off without a hitch by finding two replacement fights that may have just saved the events for the fans.

As such, in a recent interview, Dana White shared his thoughts on Ikram Aliskerov being tapped in to replace ‘Borz’ for the promotion’s debut in Saudi Arabia. While the short-notice nature of the setback was a concern, the UFC head honcho is apparently pleased with how the new matchups have shaped up!

Khamzat Chimaev was scheduled to take on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on June 22 as the main event for the promotion’s inaugural foray in Saudi Arabia. ‘Borz’ had last stepped into the cage at UFC 294 in 2023. As such, the fans were keen to see him back in action inside the Octagon. But the plans had to change as according to Dana White’s announcement, “Khamzat Chimaev is out of the fight next weekend in Saudi Arabia. Violently, and I mean, violently ill.” In order to find a replacement, the promotion called up Ikram Aliskerov, who was originally scheduled to fight at UFC Vegas 93 on June 15, to take Chimaev’s place.

In an interview with Sports Business Journal, White revealed, “It’s been interesting because we had to switch the Saudi main event, which is next weekend, you know what I mean? It’s f****** days away, so for us to put in this guy [Ikram Aliskerov] who is 15-1, he’s Muslim and his only loss is to Khamzat Chimaev…”

The UFC boss also revealed that many fighters in the middleweight division had turned down the Aliskerov fight before Robert Whittaker accepted the challenge. White further went on to state, “… I’m very happy (with the quality of the replacement fights).”

White’s satisfaction with the new matchups underscores the UFC’s commitment to delivering high-caliber fights, ensuring that fans will still be treated to an unforgettable night of action. However, while he is ready to get into the cage on June 22, Robert Whittaker has shared his frustration with the change in opponents on such short notice.

‘The Reaper’ did not consider turning down the fight after Chimaev was replaced

In an interview with BJPenn.com, Robert Whittaker, the former UFC middleweight champion, shared that he was stunned about the news of his opponent being replaced as he indicated, “There weren’t any rumors or anything.”

But he wasn’t pleased with the matchup, as he’d spent the entire training camp focused on dealing with Khamzat Chimaev’s unique style of pressure and relentless wrestling. ‘The Reaper’ shared, “It was a little frustrating, I spent like three months working a very specific gameplan for a very specific opponent, obviously Chimaev doesn’t fight like a lot of people…”

Unlike ‘Borz’, Aliskerov’s UFC performances have been marked with a pair of first-round knockouts, highlighting the stylistic differences between the two. Nevertheless, despite the abrupt shift, Whittaker stated “Mate, there was no thought to not fight. That is my job, that is what I flew across the world to do, and that is how I put bread on the table for my family.”

Whittaker’s readiness to compete despite the change in his opponent underscores his professionalism and determination. As UFC Saudi Arabia draws closer, fans will be hoping to see whether ‘The Reaper’ can handle the surging Aliskerov and continue his path toward reclaiming the title he once held.

What are your thoughts on Dana White’s replacement for the Chimaev vs Whittaker fight? Share them with us in the comments below!