Ikram Aliskerov

Ikram Sabirovich Aliskerov (born December 7, 1992) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and former combat sambo competitor who currently competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of August 8, 2026, he is #12 in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings.

Aliskerov is a four-time world champion in combat sambo (FIAS & WCSF) and two-time European champion (ESF & ECSF). 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. 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. 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. 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.

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 André 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.

Aliskerov was re-booked to face André Muniz on February 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 250. However, the bout was cancelled once again due to Muniz's and his team's visa issues and was rescheduled for April 26, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 66. Aliskerov won the fight by technical knockout at the end of the first round.

Aliskerov was scheduled to face Brunno Ferreira on July 19, 2025 at UFC 318. However, Aliskerov had to withdraw from the bout due to a broken toe and was replaced by promotional newcomer Jackson McVey.

Aliskerov faced Jun Yong Park on October 25, 2025 at UFC 321. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Aliskerov faced Brunno Ferreira on June 27, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 280. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Combat Sambo Fédération Internationale de Sambo Gold World Championship-Sofia, Bulgaria (2016) at 90 kg Gold World Cup-Moscow, Russia (2014) at 82 kg Gold World Cup-Moscow, Russia (2015) at 90 kg European Sambo Federation Gold European Championship-Minsk, Belarus (2017) at 82 kg All-Russian Sambo Federation Gold Cup of Russia in Combat Sambo-Moscow, Russia (2013) at 82 kg Silver Russian Combat Sambo Championship-Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (2017) at 82 kg

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Warlley Alves UFC.com Awards 2023: Ranked #3 Newcomer of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Brunno Ferreira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres

Baku, Azerbaijan Win

Park Jun-yong Decision (unanimous) UFC 321

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

André Muniz TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Robert Whittaker KO (punches) UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Win

Warlley Alves TKO (flying knee and punches) UFC 294

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Phil Hawes KO (punches) UFC 288

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Mário Sousa Submission (kimura) Dana White's Contender Series 54

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nah-Shon Burrell Decision (unanimous) Eagle FC 46

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Miro Jurković Submission (kimura) Brave CF 49

Riffa, Bahrain Win

Denis Tiuliulin Submission (kimura) Brave CF 41

Riffa, Bahrain Win

Diego Gonzalez TKO (punches) Brave CF 33

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Loss

Khamzat Chimaev KO (punch) Brave CF 23

Amman, Jordan Win

Geraldo Coelho de Lima Neto TKO (punches) Brave CF 21

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Win

Joey Michael Berkenbosch TKO (punches) Brave CF 14

Tangier, Morocco Win

Chad Hanekom Decision (split) Brave CF 10

Amman, Jordan Win

Jeremy Smith KO (punches) Brave CF 9

Isa Town, Bahrain Win

Rufat Asadov Submission (guillotine choke) Brave CF 6

Almaty, Kazakhstan Win

Dmitry Aryshev Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 41

Kaspiysk, Russia Win

Vladimir Stukalov Submission (armbar) Tech-KREP FC: Prime Selection 4

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Alimjon Shadmanov Decision (unanimous) Fight Star: European MMA Cup

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia