An ethnic
Lezgin, Aliskerov was born on December 7, 1992, in the village of
Kasumkent in the
Suleyman-Stalsky District of
Dagestan, Russia. He started playing sports in the 5th grade, where he began attending
sambo and
judo classes.[1][14] 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.[14]
In September 2012, Aliskerov won gold at the Combat Sambo World Championships in 82 kg under the European Combat Sambo Federation banner.[20] Former
Bellator welterweight champion
Yaroslav Amosov came out third in the 82 kg category against Aliskerov.[21]
In December 2012, Aliskerov won the World Combat Sambo Championship in 82 kg under the World Combat Sambo Federation banner.[22] It was again in this tournament that Amosov came out third against Aliskerov.[23] Ikram Aliskerov is one of a few combat athletes who have technically beaten Yaroslav Amosov on two occasions in combat sambo tournaments.[24][25][26]
During Aliskerov's career as a sambist, his victories included wins over world champions like Yaroslav Amosov, Murad Kerimov,[27][28] and Raimond Magomedaliev[29][30][31][32] in combat sambo tournaments.[33][34][35][36][37]
Aliskerov would have competed for a fifth gold medal had he not lost to Alexey Ivanov (three-time sambo world champion)[38] in a closely contested final.[37][39] 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.[40]
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.[41] He won the bout via submission in the first round.[42]
Aliskerov faced Jeremy Smith on November 17, 2017, at BCF 9.[43] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[44]
Aliskerov faced Chad Hanekom on March 2, 2018, at BCF 10. He won the bout by split decision.[45]
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.[46] He won the bout via technical knockout in the first round.[47]
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.[48]
Aliskerov faced undefeated prospect
Khamzat Chimaev on April 19, 2019, at BCF 23.[48] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, marking his first defeat.[49]
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.[50] Instead, he faced Diego Gonzalez on December 27, 2019, at BCF 33.[51] He won the bout via technical knockout in round three.[52]
Aliskerov faced Denis Tiuliulin on September 17, 2020, at
Brave CF 41.[53] He won the fight via submission in the third round.[54]
Aliskerov faced Miro Jurković on March 25, 2021, at
Brave CF 49. He won the bout via second round kimura.[55]
Eagle Fighting Championship
Aliskerov faced
Nah-Shon Burrell at
Eagle FC 46 on March 11, 2022.[56] 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.[57] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[58]
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.[59]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Aliskerov faced
Phil Hawes on May 6, 2023, at
UFC 288.[60] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[61]
Aliskerov was scheduled to face
Paulo Costa on July 29, 2023, at
UFC 291.[62] 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.[63] In turn, Imavov withdrew due to visa issues and was replaced by
Warlley Alves.[64] Aliskerov won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.[65] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[66]
Aliskerov was scheduled to face
Anthony Hernandez on February 17, 2024, at
UFC 298.[67] However Aliskerov withdrew due to compilations related to illness and was replaced by
Roman Kopylov.[68]
Aliskerov was scheduled to face
Andre Muniz on June 15, 2024, at
UFC on ESPN 58.[69] However, Muniz withdrew from the bout after he suffered a foot fracture,[70] and was replaced by promotional newcomer Antonio Trócoli.[71] 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.[72] He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.[73]