Amir Aliakbari
Iranian wrestler and mixed martial artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amir Aliakbari (Persian: امير علىاكبرى, born 11 December 1987) is an Iranian wrestler and mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. He has also competed for ONE Championship, Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) and Rizin Fighting Federation.
11 December 1987
Amir Aliakbari | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Amir Aziz Aliakbari[1] 11 December 1987 Sarab County, Iran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Islamic Azad University of Eslamshahr[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Iran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling, Mixed martial arts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | Greco-Roman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Martial arts career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 246 lb (112 kg; 17 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | AAA Team (present) AKA Thailand (2014–present)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wrestling | Greco-Roman Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2005–2013; 2014–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By disqualification | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aliakbari is also a former gold medalist and world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning gold medals at the 2010 World Wrestling Championships and 2009 Asian Wrestling Championships. International Wrestling Federation FILA (now United World Wrestling) banned Aliakbari from competing for life after a second doping offense.
Wrestling career
In 2007–2008, Aliakbari wrestled for Melli Haffari Company Ahvaz Sports Club of the Iranian Premier Wrestling League.[4]
Aliakbari missed the 2012 Summer Olympics due to a doping suspension.[1]
In the 2013 World Wrestling Championships, 120 kg he initially won a gold medal, making him a two-time world champion.[5] However, in December 2013, International Wrestling Federation, FILA banned Aliakbari for life after a second doping offense. He was stripped of his gold medal and Heiki Nabi was moved up to gold.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
In 2014, longtime MMA entrepreneur & Gambino associate, Michael Abul personally founded Aliakbari from his wrestling credentials and got him into MMA. Abul was also a Founding investor with Paradigm Sports, so Aliakbari signed a management agreement with Paradigm Sports.[6] At the same time, he signed on to train under UFC star Mike Swick of AKA Thailand in Phuket, Thailand, also training alongside UFC fighters Mark Hunt and Soa Palelei.[7] Aliakbari is the first world class Iranian wrestler to pursue an MMA career.[7]
Early MMA career
In October 2015, Aliakbari made his professional MMA debut at Full Metal Dojo and defeated Hyung Chul-Lee via TKO in the first round. His second bout came two months later as he defeated Radu Spinghel via TKO in the first round.[8]
Rizin Fighting Federation
In early 2016, it was announced that Aliakbari had signed with the Japanese promotion Rizin Fighting Federation. He made his debut in September in the first round of the Openweight Grand Prix against Joao Isidoro Almeida. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. Aliakbari was scheduled to face former UFC champion Shane Carwin in the quarter-finals in December 2016. However, Carwin withdrew from the tournament and he instead faced Heath Herring. Aliakbari won the bout by unanimous decision. In the final stage of the tournament on December 31, Aliakbari faced Valentin Moldavsky. He won the fight via split decision.[9] He then faced Mirko Cro Cop in the finals on the same night and lost the fight via knockout.[10] He then defeated Geronimo dos Santos and Tyler King via TKO.[11]
Absolute Championship Berkut
In December 2017 Aliakbari announced his departure from Rizin and his joining of ACB. His first opponent was Denis Smoldarev, whom Aliakbari defeated via technical knockout at 2:27 of the first round on March 24, 2018. He was set to have four opponents in ACB.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
It was reported that Aliakbari was signed by the UFC on June 6, 2019 after he offered compensation to the ACA for early termination of his contract, where the compensation sum was donated to charity.[12] The UFC terminated the Agreement due to a doping ban handed down by the international amateur wrestling governing body, as well as US sanctions.[13]
ONE Championship
In August 2020 news broke that Aliakbari had signed with the ONE Championship.[14] He was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Islam Abasov at ONE Championship: Big Bang on December 4, 2020.[15] However, Abasov withdrew from the fight after being detained following a road incident in his native Russia.[16]
Aliakbari faced Kang Ji Won at ONE Championship: Fists of Fury 2 on March 5, 2021.[17] In a huge upset, Aliakbari lost to Kang by first-round knockout.[18]
Aliakbari faced Anatoly Malykhin at ONE Championship: Revolution on September 24, 2021.[19] He lost the bout, getting knocked unconscious again in the first round.[20]
Aliakbari faced Mauro Cerilli at ONE on Prime Video 1 on August 27, 2022.[21] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round, earning his first promotional victory.[22]
Aliakbari faced the former ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon Vera on December 3, 2022, at ONE 164.[23] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[24]
Aliakbari faced Dustin Joynson on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12.[25] He won the fight by first-round submission due to strikes.[26] The victory also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.[27]
Aliakbari faced Arjan Bhullar on March 1, 2024, at ONE 166.[28] He won the fight via disqualification due to Bhullar's timidity in round three.[29]
Aliakbari faced Marcus Buchecha on November 9, 2024, at ONE 169.[30] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke in round one.[31]
On February 9, 2025, it was announced that Aliakbari was no longer with the promotion.[32]
Return to Absolute Championship Akhmat
On August 15, 2025, Aliakbari faced Salimgerey Rasulov at ACA 190. He won by technical knockout.
Aliakbari faced Tony Johnson at ACA 194 on October 23, 2025. He won by unanimous decision.
Mixed martial arts record
| 20 matches | 16 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 3 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 0 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 16–4 | Tony Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | ACA 194 | October 23, 2025 | 5 | 5:00 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 15–4 | Salimgerey Rasulov | TKO (punches and elbows) | ACA 190 | August 15, 2025 | 1 | 4:07 | Moscow, Russia | Catchweight (273 lb) bout; Rasulov missed weight. |
| Loss | 14–4 | Marcus Buchecha | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE 169 | November 9, 2024 | 1 | 3:15 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Win | 14–3 | Arjan Bhullar | DQ (timidity) | ONE 166 | March 1, 2024 | 3 | 4:50 | Lusail, Qatar | The bout was ended by disqualification due to the referee giving Bhullar a red card for inactivity. |
| Win | 13–3 | Dustin Joynson | TKO (submission to punches) | ONE Fight Night 12 | July 15, 2023 | 1 | 1:48 | Bangkok, Thailand | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–3 | Brandon Vera | TKO (elbows and punches) | ONE 164 | December 3, 2022 | 1 | 3:37 | Pasay, Philippines | |
| Win | 11–3 | Mauro Cerilli | TKO (elbows) | ONE on Prime Video 1 | August 27, 2022 | 2 | 4.02 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 10–3 | Anatoly Malykhin | KO (punches) | ONE: Revolution | September 24, 2021 | 1 | 2:57 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Kang Ji-won | KO (punch) | ONE: Fists of Fury 2 | March 5, 2021 | 1 | 1:54 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 10–1 | Shelton Graves | TKO (punches) | ACA 93 | March 16, 2019 | 1 | 4:44 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 9–1 | Daniel Omielańczuk | Decision (unanimous) | ACB 89 | September 8, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Krasnodar, Russia | |
| Win | 8–1 | Denis Smoldarev | TKO (elbows and punches) | ACB 83 | March 24, 2018 | 1 | 2:25 | Baku, Azerbaijan | |
| Win | 7–1 | Tyler King | TKO (punches) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round - Part 1 | July 30, 2017 | 1 | 1:39 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 6–1 | Gerônimo dos Santos | TKO (punches) | Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura | April 16, 2017 | 1 | 3:34 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–1 | Mirko Cro Cop | KO (punches) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: Final Round | December 31, 2016 | 1 | 2:03 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix Final. |
| Win | 5–0 | Valentin Moldavsky | Decision (split) | 2 | 5:00 | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix Semifinal. | |||
| Win | 4–0 | Heath Herring | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round | December 29, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 3–0 | João Isidoro Almeida | TKO (punches) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round | September 25, 2016 | 1 | 2:25 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix First Round. |
| Win | 2–0 | Radu Spinghel | TKO (punches) | REAL 3 | December 5, 2015 | 1 | 1:02 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Hyung Chul-lee | TKO (punches) | Full Metal Dojo 7 | October 31, 2015 | 1 | 0:17 | Bangkok, Thailand | Heavyweight debut. |
