UFC Saudi Arabia main card preview & top picks | June 22, 2024

The UFC heads to Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a Fight Night stacked with international talent. Top-five heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov will throw down in the co-main event, perennial contender Kelvin Gastelum will return against Daniel Rodriguez, and the ever-entertaining Johnny Walker will square off with Volkan Oezdemir.

Robert Whittaker v Ikram Aliskerov

Robert Whittaker vs Ikram Aliskerov

Setting the tone for the rest of this reshuffled card, Ikram Aliskerov steps in to fight Rob Whittaker in what should be a gripping middleweight battle. See our Whittaker vs Aliskerov betting preview here.

Sergei Pavlovich v Alexander Volkov

Sergei Pavlovich vs Alexander Volkov

Sergei Pavlovich (18-2-0) fought for the interim heavyweight crown in 2023, losing a wild fight by knockout to Tom Aspinall. The Russian landed hard early shots but was caught with a counterstrike and hit the canvas after just a minute of action. Prior to the loss, the 32-year-old carved a swathe through the division with six consecutive KO victories, and a win here will put him back in the title picture.

Alexander Volkov (37-10-0) was also beaten by Tom Aspinall when the pair met in 2022 but has since re-established his title credentials with three straight stoppage wins. The towering Russian can be a little slow on the feet, but a long reach allows him to lean in and out of striking range. The 35-year-old’s chances should improve if he can survive the opening round when the heat will be on.

Kelvin Gastelum v Daniel Rodriguez

Kelvin Gastelum vs Daniel Rodriguez

Kelvin Gastelum (18-9-0) has not been the same athlete since losing an epic title fight against Israel Adesanya in 2019. The 32-year-old has since recorded two wins and five losses and is coming off a submission defeat at his most recent appearance. The American has the tools to be an elite combatant but might be winding toward the inevitable end of a long octagon career.

Daniel Rodriguez (17-4-0) has dropped his last two contests and needs to right the ship here. The 37-year-old came to MMA late in life but may have lost a yard since an impressive four-fight run between 2021 and 2022. He will enjoy a height and reach advantage which should help him manage the distance and land first to score an upset win.

Shara Magomedov v Antonio Trocoli

Shara Magomedov vs Antonio Trocoli

Shara Magomedov (12-0-0) is an undefeated Russian who won his UFC debut in a tidy fashion in October 2023 and might be a name to watch in the middleweight division. The 30-year-old’s form prior to this win is difficult to gauge given the level of competition, and comparisons to other Russian champions appear premature. He is expected to progress through this contest based on superior striking.

Antonio Trocoli (12-3-0) steps in after Joilton Lutterbach was removed from the card due to a failed drug test. The 33-year-old Brazilian was due to face Ikram Aliskerov last Saturday, but that bout was cancelled so the Russian could fight in this weekend’s main event. Trocoli will be making his UFC debut and should be outclassed.

Johnny Walker v Volkan Oezdemir

Johnny Walker vs Volkan Oezdemir

Johnny Walker (21-8-0) is coming off a heavy knockout loss to the highly touted Magomed Ankalaev after building a three-fight win streak to turn his career around. The Brazilian can be his worst enemy with extravagant flying and spinning manoeuvres that invite danger. Predicting the 32-year-old’s performance level can be tricky, but he is certain to throw hard strikes at some point during this bout.

Volkan Oezdemir (19-7-0) has endured a rocky patch since 2020 with two wins and three losses. The Swiss fighter struggles to impress the judges with most of his losses coming via decision. The 34-year-old also throws powerful strikes but can run out of gas so this will either be a brief and explosive contest or a tedious and overly cautious matchup.

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