Robert Whittaker (left)(image via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Robert Whittaker needed less than two minutes today at UFC Saudi Arabia to ensure he remains in the title shot conversation at 185 pounds.

The former middleweight champ took on the surging, Ikram Aliskerov in the card’s headliner, who was stepping in for the ill, Khamzat Chimaev. Aliskerov had been scheduled to fight Antonio Trócoli last weekend.

Whittaker stunned Aliskerov badly with a right hand not long into the fight, and then finished the decorated, sambo competitor with additional punches.

In the card’s co-main event, Alexander Volkov outstruck and bloodied the heavy-handed, Sergei Pavlovich, en route to a unanimous decision win.

Here are the complete results for the card.

UFC Saudi Arabia

Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov via KO (punches) (R1, 1:49)

Alexander Volkov def. Sergei Pavlovich via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Kelvin Gastelum def. Daniel Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

Shara Magomedov def. Antonio Trocoli via KO (punches) (R3, 2:27)

Volkan Oezdemir def. Johnny Walker via KO (punches) (R1, 2:28)

Nasrat Haqparast def. Jared Gordon via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Felipe Lima def. Muhammad Naimov via submission (rear-naked choke) (R3, 1:15)

Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Nicolas Dalby via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Muin Gafurov def. Kyung Ho Kang via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Magomed Gadzhiyasulov def. Brendson Ribeiro via majority decision (29-28 x2, 28-28)

Chang Ho Lee def. Xiao Long via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Results via MMA Fighting.com.