5 Fast Facts About Surging Heavyweight MMA Contender Amir Aliakbari
Iranian powerhouse Amir Aliakbari will look to make it three wins in a row when he takes on former ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Arjan “Singh” Bhullar at ONE 166: Qatar on Friday, March 1.
That pivotal matchup will air to more than 190 countries globally from the Lusail Sports Arena and could be the 36-year-old’s chance to earn his shot at Anatoly Malykhin‘s heavyweight MMA crown.
Before Aliakbari steps into the Circle for perhaps the biggest fight of his career, we take a look at five interesting facts about the popular and outspoken superstar.
#1 He Hails From A Small Town
Nowadays, Aliakbari lives in the bustling metropolis of Tehran, but he spent most of his early days enjoying a slow-paced, small-town upbringing.
He grew up in Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province, a picturesque, mountainous region near the borders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
#2 His Brother Inspired Him To Wrestle
A former UWW Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion, it’s no small secret that Aliakbari is one of the finest wrestlers competing in MMA today.
As one of six children in his family, he started in the sport – which is wildly popular in Iran – at the age of 10 by following in the footsteps of his older brother.
He hasn’t looked back since, establishing himself as one of his country’s most dominant martial artists.
#3 He Is Iran’s Biggest Combat Sports Superstar
After five thrilling fights in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Aliakbari has firmly established himself as the most popular martial artist from Iran and one of the country’s most famous athletes.
His accomplishments in wrestling and MMA – including a trio of electrifying knockouts in ONE – have certainly boosted his star power.
But beyond athletics, he is a bombastic personality and boasts nearly 3 million Instagram followers, making him a bona fide Middle Eastern superstar.
#4 He’s A Devout Muslim
Aliakbari is, first and foremost, a deeply religious man.
“I draw all my strength from my faith,” he once told onefc.com. That faith is undoubtedly key in helping him push through adversity and maintain an unwavering belief in himself.
#5 He’s A Cologne Brand Ambassador
The hulking knockout artist cleans up nicely.
When he’s not battling the planet’s scariest mixed martial artists under ONE’s bright lights, Aliakbari serves as a brand ambassador for Power Pulse cologne.
