Issues change quickly within the sport of blended martial arts. In the future, you’re struggling to discover a worthy opponent who may also help you crack into the UFC’s middleweight rankings. The subsequent you’re preventing a prime ranked contender and former champion on two weeks discover. That is the story of Ikram Aliskerov.
He faces Robert Whittaker this weekend in the primary occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia. Initially scheduled final week, Aliskerov was tapped to face Whittaker after Khamzat Chimaev pulled out of the struggle as a result of sickness. Now, Aliskerov has his shot on the rankings, maybe a bit increased than one would have thought off the bat.
Reducing tooth: Fight Sambo World Champion
Aliskerov’s 15-1 document, we are able to see the dividends of an completed profession in fight sambo. There, Aliskerov confirmed promise. Early on, he skilled underneath Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, sure that Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the daddy of Khabib Nurmagomedov. In a camp of literal champions like Khabib and Islam Makhachev, Aliskerov skyrocketed in talent capability when he joined at 19 years outdated.
He would beat future stars of the game in fight sambo, like Yaroslav Amosov, Murad Kerimov and extra. However Aliskerov was searching for extra. He wished larger glory to chase.
After profitable a FIAS championship, the highest championship in sambo, Ikram Aliskerov would search larger challenges in blended martial arts.
The early profession of Ikram Aliskerov
Ikram Aliskerov reduce his tooth early in his MMA careers at BRAVE CF. He debuted with the promotion at 3-0. He rocketed to 5 straight wins with 4 finishes.
Then he was paired up with Khamzat Chimaev, which is attention-grabbing in hindsight given he’s changing Chimaev this weekend. Catastrophe struck as Aliskerov was caught with a brutal uppercut from Chimaev that put him out chilly. He was undefeated no extra.
Shedding wasn’t a wierd idea to Ikram Aliskerov, nonetheless. He’d misplaced to Alexey Ivanov in his ultimate fight sambo world championships. He’d come again with a vengeance.
Aliskerov got here again to beat 4 straight fighters, together with future UFC expertise Denis Tiuliulin. His final struggle noticed him step away from BRAVE and did a struggle in Khabib’s Eagle FC, his ultimate regional win.
Getting his shot, Aliskerov was tapped to face Mario Sousa on the Contender Collection. There he received a contract with a primary spherical kimura. His time had come.
UFC Sure
With the decision to the large present, Ikram Aliskerov began his work. In his debut, he knocked out Phil Hawes within the first spherical. This put the division on discover. That is when Aliskerov started to have issues reserving fights.
He had his subsequent struggle booked with Paulo Costa and each fighters have been rebooked when Costa was to struggle Chimaev. Aliskerov was tapped to face Nassourdine Imavov, who simply beat Cannonier, and Imavov withdrew.
Thankfully, Aliskerov was booked to struggle, did struggle, and knocked out Warlley Alves within the first spherical. His issues would quickly return. Fluffy Hernandez was subsequent however pulled out of the struggle earlier than he may face Aliskerov. Andre Muniz was subsequent and, as typical, Muniz pulled.
He was lastly tapped to struggle final week towards Antonio Trocoli earlier than Chimaev pulled out and postponed Aliskerov’s return by every week. Now he faces Robert Whittaker who’s third within the middleweight rankings.
From struggling to get a top quality struggle to preventing the primary contender, Ikram Aliskerov has a possibility to vary the tides in his favor. He’ll go from begging for a contender to having a rating spot many covet. Very first thing’s first, he has to win.