The highly anticipated UFC on ABC 6 event in Saudi Arabia has faced a setback as Khamzat Chimaev has been forced to withdraw from the main event due to illness. This news comes as a disappointment to fans who were looking forward to seeing Chimaev face off against Robert Whittaker in the middleweight headliner on June 22 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Replacing Chimaev in the headline bout will be Ikram Aliskerov, who was originally slated to compete in the co-main event against Antonio Trocoli. This sudden change was announced by UFC CEO Dana White in a video posted on social media.
Chimaev, who had a stellar start to his UFC career in 2020 with three wins in just over two months, has had limited activity in recent years. His last fight was a close decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October. The 30-year-old fighter was on the cusp of a title shot with a win over Whittaker, but now his future in the sport is uncertain following his withdrawal from the event.
Despite the last-minute change in opponents, Whittaker has expressed his readiness to face anyone in the octagon. The updated UFC on ABC 6 card now includes exciting matchups such as Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov, Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov, and Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez.
Fans can stay updated on the event by visiting MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6. Additionally, they can engage with fellow MMA enthusiasts on the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this event and more.
