"I've watched a couple of fights involving Aliskerov - he's a dangerous guy, he has a really strong skill set. Ikram knows his best sides and uses them to their fullest, achieving the intended effect. I think he'll have a feeling a couple minutes before the fight starts, as if he can win everything. Personally, I expect Ikram to be really tough and aggressive in the fight.
The title is not what I'm focused on right now. My focus is on the fight ahead. I have an understanding of the threat that Ikram will present in the fight. I'm only focused on taking Ikram's head off in those 25 minutes. He's a dangerous guy. This fight could be tougher than the one with Chimaev," MMA Junkie quoted Whittaker as saying.