Ikram Sabirovich Aliskerov (born December 7, 1992) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and combat sambo competitor who competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Aliskerov is a four-time world champion in combat sambo (FIAS & WCSF) and two-time European champion (ESF & ECSF).
Early life
An ethnic Lezgin, Aliskerov was born on December 7, 1992, in the village of Kasumkent in the Suleyman-Stalsky District of Dagestan, Russia. He started playing sports in the 5th grade, where he began attending sambo and judo classes. For years, Aliskerov trained under the guidance of experienced trainers who came from Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s gym. At the age of 19, he was invited to join the “Champion” club by coach Esadull Emiragaev, where he also began training in mixed martial arts.
Combat sambo career
During his time as a combat sambo competitor, he became a world champion in 2016 under the FIAS banner, a two-time World Cup champion in 2014 and 2015 again under FIAS, and a European Champion in 2017 under the European Sambo Federation banner.
In September 2012, Aliskerov won gold at the Combat Sambo World Championships in 82 kg under the European Combat Sambo Federation banner. Former Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov came out third in the 82 kg category against Aliskerov.
In December 2012, Aliskerov won the World Combat Sambo Championship in 82 kg under the World Combat Sambo Federation banner. It was again in this tournament that Amosov came out third against Aliskerov. Ikram Aliskerov is one of a few combat athletes who have technically beaten Yaroslav Amosov on two occasions in combat sambo tournaments.
During Aliskerov's career as a sambist, his victories included wins over world champions like Yaroslav Amosov, Murad Kerimov, and Raimond Magomedaliev in combat sambo tournaments.
Aliskerov would have competed for a fifth gold medal had he not lost to Alexey Ivanov (three-time sambo world champion) in a closely contested final. As a result of being the runner-up in the said tournament, Aliskerov qualified for and won the 2017 European Championships, held in Minsk, Belarus.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Aliskerov competed three times in MMA between 2012 and 2015, winning all of his matches.
Brave Combat Federation
Aliskerov then focused entirely on this sport in 2017, when he signed a contract with Brave Combat Federation. He was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Will Fleury on April 29, 2017, at BCF 6. However, Fleury was forced to pull out of the contest and was replaced by Rufat Asadov. He won the bout via submission in the first round.
Aliskerov faced Jeremy Smith on November 17, 2017, at BCF 9. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Aliskerov faced Chad Hanekom on March 2, 2018, at BCF 10. He won the bout by split decision.
He was then scheduled to meet Diego Gonzalez on August 18, 2018, at BCF 14. However, Gonzalez pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Joey Michael Berkenbosch. He won the bout via technical knockout in the first round.
Aliskerov faced Geraldo Coelho de Lima Neto on December 28, 2018, at BCF 21. He won the fight via technical knockout in the third round.
Aliskerov faced undefeated prospect Khamzat Chimaev on April 19, 2019, at BCF 23. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, marking his first and only defeat to date.
Aliskerov was slated to came back against Mohammad Fakhreddine on October 4, 2019, at BCF 27. However, the bout was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he faced Diego Gonzalez on December 27, 2019, at BCF 33. He won the bout via technical knockout in round three.
Aliskerov faced Denis Tiuliulin on September 17, 2020, at Brave CF 41. He won the fight via submission in the third round.
Aliskerov faced Miro Jurković on March 25, 2021, at Brave CF 49. He won the bout via second round kimura.
Eagle Fighting Championship
Aliskerov faced Nah-Shon Burrell at Eagle FC 46 on March 11, 2022. At weigh ins, Ikram Aliskerov missed weight for his bout. Aliskerov weighed in at 186.2 pounds, 0.2 pounds over the middleweight non-title limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Burrell. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Dana White Contender Series
Aliskerov faced Mário Sousa on September 13, 2022, at Dana White's Contender Series 54. He won the fight via kimura submission in round one, winning a UFC contract in the process.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Aliskerov faced Phil Hawes on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Aliskerov was scheduled to face Paulo Costa on July 29, 2023, at UFC 291. However, on July 19 it was announced that the bout was scrapped and Aliskerov would instead face Nassourdine Imavov on October 21, 2023, at UFC 294. In turn, Imavov withdrew due to visa issues and was replaced by Warlley Alves. Aliskerov won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Aliskerov was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on February 17, 2024, at UFC 298. However Aliskerov withdrew due to compilations related to illness and was replaced by Roman Kopylov.
Aliskerov was scheduled to face Andre Muniz on June 15, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 58. However, Muniz withdrew from the bout after he suffered a foot fracture, and was replaced by promotional newcomer Antonio Trócoli. In turn, Aliskerov was pulled from that bout to instead face former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on June 22, 2024, in the main event at UFC on ABC 6, as a replacement for an ill Khamzat Chimaev. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.
Championships and accomplishments
Combat Sambo
Fédération Internationale de Sambo
World Championship-Sofia, Bulgaria (2016) at 90 kg
World Cup-Moscow, Russia (2014) at 82 kg
World Cup-Moscow, Russia (2015) at 90 kg
World Combat Sambo Federation
World Championship-Moscow, Russia (2012) at 82 kg
European Sambo Federation
European Championship-Minsk, Belarus (2017) at 82 kg
European Combat Sambo Federation
European Championship-Chișinău, Moldova (2012) at 82 kg
All-Russian Sambo Federation
Cup of Russia in Combat Sambo-Moscow, Russia (2013) at 82 kg
Russian Combat Sambo Championship-Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (2017) at 82 kg
Sagittarius
