15-1 middleweight Ikram Aliskerov isn’t just looking past his UFC Vegas 93 opponent, he’s already almost shared his post-fight speech.
After two weeks on the road, the UFC returns to the warehouse where dreams are made; at 15-1, Russian middleweight contender Ikram Aliskerov is finally set to make his first appearance of 2024 in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 93.
Ikram Aliskerov returns to action in UFC Vegas 93 co-main event
This weekend’s UFC Vegas 93 can almost be considered the “hopeful” card, with several fighters set to face off who fans and experts believe could one day become either the UFC champion , or at least one of the best contenders.
That includes middleweight prospect Ikram Aliskerov, who returns to the octagon for the first time since October 2023 to face Dana White’s Contender Series alumni, 12-3 Brazilian powerhouse Antonio Trocoli.
Yet even before his co-main event clash with Trocoli, the Russian makes a major request of the UFC – one that ends with him facing one of the best fighters in the middleweight division, “what let it happen.”
Ikram Aliskerov makes bold request ahead of Trocoli fight
With 11 of his 15 victories as a professional MMA fighter ending at the distance, it’s no surprise that Aliskerov is looking to quickly defeat his UFC Vegas 93 opponent and pick up another victory at 185 pounds .
“I want to come out there and finish it in an exciting way,” he confidently told the UFC News team, adding that “That’s exactly what I channeled, that’s is what I’m ready for, and I’m ready.” excited to do it on Saturday.
If Aliskerov gets this victory, he will demand that the UFC quickly push him to the upper echelon of the middleweight division; even offering a potential window of time for his next fight.
“I think one more of these exciting finishes and the next fight, they definitely need to give me a Top 10 fighter no matter what…September, October, I’ll be ready to fight the next fight (then) – j ‘would love to.’
Aliskerov is currently riding an impressive seven-fight winning streak, which includes back-to-back first-round knockout victories over Warlley Alves and Phil Hawes in his last two fights.
Yet the middleweight contender has been a frustrated figure in recent months, with fights against Paulo Costa, Nassourdine Imavov, Anthony Hernandez and Andre Muniz all falling through since his victory over Hawes in mid-2023.
“It’s a bit annoying actually, all these changes, but there’s nothing I can do about it; It’s just sport… It’s my job, it’s what I have to do, and I have to go out and perform.
Interestingly, the last man to beat Aliskerov in the octagon was undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev, and you better believe the Russian would do anything to get that win back.
“Borz” himself only returns to action next weekend in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, where he will face former middleweight champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker.
“Of course I am excited about this fight,” Aliskerov noted.
“But right now the most important thing is my middleweight fight, the fight I have this Saturday… After this fight, that’s when I count down to next Saturday to watch this middleweight fight.”
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Antonio Trocoli is set for the main event of UFC Vegas 93, which takes place this Saturday live from the UFC Apex.
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