Amir Aliakbari
Amir Aliakbari (Persian: امير علىاكبرى, born 11 December 1987) is an Iranian former gold medalist and world champion in Greco-Roman wrestler and current mixed martial artist (MMA). He formerly competed at Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) and Rizin Fighting Federation. International Wrestling Federation, FILA banned Aliakbari from competing for life after a second doping offence.
Amir Aliakbari | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Amir Aziz Aliakbari[1] 11 December 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Iranian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Islamic Azad University of Eslamshahr[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Iran | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Sport wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Greco-Roman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4[3] in (193 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 119[4] kg (262 lb; 18 st 10 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2005–2013; 2014–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable club(s) | American Top Team via AKA Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Wrestling career
In 2007–2008, he wrestled for Melli Haffari Company Ahvaz Sports Club of Iranian Premier Wrestling League.[5]
He missed the 2012 Summer Olympics due to a doping suspension.[1]
In 2013 World Wrestling Championships, 120 kg he initially won a gold medal, making him a two-times world champion,[6] however in December 2013, International Wrestling Federation, FILA banned Aliakbari for life after a second doping offence. 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 Mishal Abul personally founded Aliakbari & got him into MMA. Mishal was an investor with Paradigm Sports Management so Aliakbari signed a management agreement with them.,[4] 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] He is the first world class Iranian wrestler to pursue an MMA career.[7]
Early MMA career
Aliakbari made his professional MMA debut in October 2015, defeating 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.
Rizin FF
In early 2016, it was announced that Aliakbari signed with the Japanese promotion Rizin Fighting Federation. He made his debuted 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. He then faced Mirko Cro Cop in the finals on the same night and lost the fight via knockout. He then defeated Geronimo dos Santos and Tyler King via TKO.
ACB
In December 2017 Aliakbari announced departure from Rizin and Joining ACB. His first opponent was Denis Smoldarev, who Aliakbari defeated via KO/TKO at 2:27 of Round 1 on March 24, 2018. He is going to have four opponents in ACB.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
It was reported that Aliakbari was signed by UFC on June 6, 2019 after Aliakbari offered compensation to the ACA for early termination of his contract, where the compensation sum was donated to charity.[8] Aliakbari withdrew from the UFC due to a doping ban handed down by the international amateur wrestling governing body as well as US sanctions.[9]
ONE Championship
On 3 August 2020, Aliakbari signed with ONE Championship.[9]
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 11 matches | 10 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 7 | 1 |
| By submission | 0 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 10–1 | Shelton Graves | TKO (punches) | ACA 93: Balaev vs. Zhamaldaev | March 16, 2019 | 1 | 4:44 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 9–1 | Daniel Omielańczuk | Decision (unanimous) | ACB 89: Abdulvakhabov vs. Bagov 3 | September 8, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Krasnodar, Russia | |
| Win | 8–1 | Denis Smoldarev | TKO (elbows and punches) | ACB 83: Borisov vs. Kerimov | March 24, 2018 | 1 | 2:25 | Baku, Azerbaijan | |
| Win | 7–1 | Tyler King | TKO (punches) | Rizin Fighting World Grand Prix 2017 Opening Round Part 1 | July 30, 2017 | 1 | 1:39 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 6–1 | Geronimo dos Santos | TKO (punches) | Rizin FF 5: 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 Open-Weight Grand Prix Final. |
| Win | 5–0 | Valentin Moldavsky | Decision (split) | Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: Final Round | December 31, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Open-Weight 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 World Grand Prix Quarterfinals |
| Win | 3–0 | Joao Isidoro Almeida | TKO (punches) | Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: 1st Round | September 25, 2016 | 1 | 2:25 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin World Grand Prix First Round |
| Win | 2–0 | Radu Spinghel | TKO (punches) | Real Fight Championship 3 | December 5, 2015 | 1 | 1:02 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Hyung Chul-Lee | TKO (punches) | Full Metal Dojo 7: Full Metal Massacre | October 31, 2015 | 1 | 0:17 | Bangkok, Thailand |
Greco-Roman results
References
- Grohmann, Karolos (December 14, 2013). Josh Reich (ed.). "Iran's wrestling world champion Akbari banned for life". Reuters. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- "Athletes / ALIAKBARI Amir". 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013 Official Website. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Amir-Aliakbari-199121
- گفتوگو با کشتیگیر سابق تیم ملی که میخواهد در قفس مرگ آمریکا مبارزه کند/ قهرمان شوم ۱۵ میلیارد میگیرم [An Interview with former national team wrestler who wants to fight in American death cages]. Khabaronline (in Persian). Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- اسامي كشتیگيران و مربيان تيمهای شركتكننده در ليگ برتر فرنگی جام خليج فارس. Iran Wrestling Federation (in Persian). Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- "Amir Ali-Akbari Greco-Roman world champ, Iran 4th best". IRNA. September 23, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- "Iranian wrestling world champion Aliakbari training for MMA career at AKA Thailand". Bloody Elbow. October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- Sherdog.com. "Iranian Amir Aliakbari Released from ACA Contract to Go to UFC". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/29592103/one-championship-signs-ex-greco-roman-champ-amir-aliakbari
- Sherdog.com. "Amir Aliakbari MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
