Ikram Aliskerov and two other UFC fighters who paid for taking short-notice fights (and two fighters who found success)

A short-notice UFC fight is a suboptimal situation for a fighter to find themselves in. A considerable chunk of a mixed martial artist's success hinges on their preparation. They train to get into peak physical condition and fine-tune their instincts and reactions to carry out game plans specific to their opponents.

This is to say nothing of the rigorous weight cuts that fighters undergo, which require time. Short-notice fights, therefore, are excruciatingly difficult for various reasons. Fighters are unfamiliar with their opponents, must cut a tremendous amount of weight in very short order, and lack their usual level of fitness.

So, it comes as no surprise that some UFC fighters who take on short-notice fights are met with failure. However, there are the rare few who accepted matchups with little time to prepare and shock the world.

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#5. Michael Bisping, former UFC middleweight: Succeeded

Michael Bisping is a UFC legend whose dream was to capture undisputed gold in the promotion. Though for the longest time, that dream seemed to be just that: a dream. It was not within his grasp, he wasn't good enough. Yet, everything changed at UFC 199.

At the time, Luke Rockhold was the middleweight champion. He was scheduled to defend his title in a rematch with Chris Weidman. Instead, the All-American withdrew due to injury, replaced by Bisping, who had just 17 days to prepare for an opponent who had already beaten him.

Check out Michael Bisping knocking out Luke Rockhold:

Against insurmountable odds, Bisping punished Rockhold's habit of dropping his rear hand every time he exits an exchange in the pocket. He cracked the then-champion with a left hook, dropping him. Rockhold scrambled to his feet, only to be dropped again, then knocked out by Bisping, the new middleweight champion.

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#4. Chad Mendes, former UFC featherweight: Failed

UFC 189 was originally meant to host José Aldo's long-awaited featherweight title defense against Conor McGregor. Instead, the Brazilian withdrew from the bout with a now infamous rib injury, which forced the promotion to call on multi-time title challenger Chad Mendes to step up to the plate.

The matchup, which Mendes took on just 18 days' notice, was contested for the interim featherweight title. Despite getting the better of McGregor early, landing hard punches, scoring takedowns, and racking up control time, the effects of a suboptimal preparation quickly became apparent.

Check out Chad Mendes getting TKO'd by Conor McGregor:

Mendes tired significantly by round two and lacked the zeal to continue outwrestling the Irishman. In the dying seconds of the round, he was gasping for air as McGregor sniped him along the fence with a long left hook. Knocked down, Mendes was TKO'd by follow-up ground-and-pound, sparking his decline.

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#3. Nate Diaz, former UFC lightweight/welterweight: Succeeded

Future 'BMF' claimant Nate Diaz saw his ticket to superstardom in Conor McGregor, who he called out in an all-time great post-fight interview after dismantling a game Michael Johnson. With his challenge issued, Stockton's finest awaited an answer from the sidelines.

After the Irishman's UFC 196 lightweight title fight with Rafael dos Anjos was scrapped due to the Brazilian fracturing his foot, Diaz was called in on just 11 days' notice. He accepted, and the two met inside the octagon, where Diaz, despite having just been on vacation, drinking, caused McGregor to tire within two rounds.

He rocked the Irishman on the feet, prompting the latter to shoot for a desperate takedown, which was stuffed. Not long afterward, Diaz submitted him with a rear-naked choke, shocking the world with an upset for the ages, and setting the stage for a legendary rivalry.

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#2. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC featherweight: Failed

Alexander Volkanovski possesses otherworldly skills as a fighter, being well-rounded in every facet of the game. This bundle of talent and technique carried him to stunning championship success in the UFC featherweight division. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to dethrone Islam Makhachev at lightweight.

Nevertheless, Volkanovski's gutsy performance in their initial bout left him with enough confidence. He believed he could beat Makhachev, so when UFC 294 lost Charles Oliveira to a cut that required surgery, the Australian star stepped in with just 10 days to prepare for another crack at lightweight gold.

Check out Alexander Volkanovski getting knocked out by Islam Makhachev:

Alas, Volkanovski's self-belief found its limit, and he was promptly knocked out within a round for his attempt at doing the impossible. He was ill-prepared, so the idea that he could beat the man who beat him when he had a full camp was more than far-fetched.

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#1. Ikram Aliskerov, UFC middleweight: Failed

One of Dagestan's latest exploits, Ikram Aliskerov was expected to do great things in MMA. Perhaps he still is. After all, he was a student of the late great Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Unfortunately, at UFC Saudi Arabia, he was out of his depth when he faced former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

The card originally pitted 'The Reaper' against Khamzat Chimaev. 'Borz,' however, withdrew due to illness, and the promotion enlisted the services of Aliskerov, who was preparing to face a completely different style and level of opponent in Antonio Trócoli. Instead, he now had nine days to prepare for 'The Reaper.'

Check out Ikram Aliskerov getting knocked out by Robert Whittaker:

It wasn't enough. Even though he was in great physical condition, he had not been preparing for Whittaker, one of the very best in the world. For that, Aliskerov was knocked out in under two minutes.