What was that question, bro?
Robert Whittaker showed that he was levels above Ikram Aliskerov yesterday (Sat., June 22, 2024) when he knocked Aliskerov out in under two minutes in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia from inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (watch highlights). “The Reaper” was awarded a $50k Performance of the Night for his knockout.
Obviously, Whittaker was supposed to headline UFC’s super-important debut in The Kingdom against Khamzat Chimaev, but the fight fell apart a week before the event.
During the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight press conference (watch it here), a local reporter asked the former Middleweight champion how the fight would have gone IF Chimaev was healthy and they had fought five rounds. Whittaker laughed it off with a silly response.
“Mate, if I had wheels, I’d be a bike. Am I right? Like it is what it is,” Whittaker said while giggling. “Yeah, mate, what if I would have scrambled eggs instead of waffles this morning? I don’t know. I don’t know. I understand Chimaev is a hard fight, but I didn’t shirk it. I did not say yes to fighting him. You know what I mean? Yeah. I don’t know how to respond properly to that. But thank you very much.”
Whittaker can be a tough interviewee at times with his blunt answers, but all things considered, he took that question and a couple of others like it in stride like a classy gentleman.
“The Reaper” is riding a two-fight winning streak since losing to current Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and could be getting a rematch if all goes to plan at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.
According to Chimaev, they aren’t done yet, though.
For complete UFC Saudi Arabia results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.