Amir Aliakbari

Amir Aliakbari has emerged as one of Iran’s greatest combat sports athletes of all time. 

The Tehran native originally found himself as the nation’s foremost figure in Greco-Roman wrestling. At the 2010 World Wrestling Championships in Moscow, Russia, he defeated five men in a single day to win the gold medal in the 96-kilogram category. 

Soon, Aliakbari shifted his attention from Greco-Roman wrestling to MMA with the hopes of replicating that success. Since making his pro debut in October 2015, the Iranian has used his suffocating grappling prowess, heavy hands, and immense power to earn 10 career victories. What’s more, seven of those victories came via knockout in the first round. 

That led him to a deal with ONE Championship in August 2020. 

Known for his brute strength and bombastic personality, Aliakbari is finally on the global stage where he believes he can carry the torch for Iranian mixed martial arts. With supreme confidence in his abilities, the Tehran powerhouse is intent on bringing his same overbearing style to the heavyweight division and forcing himself into the hunt for the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship. 

After a tough start to his promotional tenure, Aliakbari has found his groove in a big way with a scintillating three-fight winning streak.  

Next, Aliakbari faces former heavyweight MMA king Arjan Bhullar in a high-stakes showdown at ONE 166: Qatar on Friday, March 1, with a potential shot at divisional gold on the line.