Ikram Aliskerov

Ikram Sabirovich Aliskerov is a Russian mixed martial artist from Dagestan who competes in the middleweight division of the UFC.

Born in Kasumkent, in Dagestan's Suleyman-Stalsky District, Aliskerov grew up training judo and sambo side by side from the fifth grade, a dual foundation common among the region's top grapplers. He turned professional in 2012 and built his reputation on the Russian and Eurasian regional circuits before signing with the UFC. He trains out of KHK MMA in Makhachkala, having come up through the Champion club under coaches connected to the gym built by the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, one of Dagestan's most storied wrestling and combat sambo institutions.

Aliskerov's amateur resume is extensive. He holds the rank of International Master of Sport in combat sambo and has won multiple world and European titles in the discipline, including combat sambo world championship gold. That pedigree, built on judo throws blended with sambo grappling principles, sits at the core of everything he does inside the cage.

Stylistically, Aliskerov is a rare combination of thrower and finisher. He uses a probing jab off a V-step to close distance, then looks to off-balance opponents with judo staples like uchi-mata and harai-goshi, dragging them into scrambles where his sambo instincts take over. He carries real one-punch power in his right hand and has shown a willingness to end fights early, whether with strikes or with submissions set up off his throws.

Inside the Octagon, Aliskerov has delivered highlight-reel finishes over Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves, the latter earning a Performance of the Night bonus, and has added a finish over Andre Muniz along with a decision win over JunYong Park.

What defines Aliskerov is the marriage of elite throwing technique with genuine knockout power, a rare profile that makes him one of the more unpredictable and dangerous names in the middleweight division.