5 Things To Know About Undefeated Lightweight MMA Contender Alibeg Rasulov
On June 6 in U.S. primetime, Alibeg Rasulov will look to cement himself as the lightweight MMA division’s top contender when he takes on surging Swiss sensation Maurice Abevi at ONE Fight Night 32: Rodrigues vs. Cohen on Prime Video.
Rasulov has already been painfully close to wearing ONE Championship gold. After dominating former titleholder Ok Rae Yoon in his promotional debut, the 32-year-old challenged divisional kingpin Christian Lee for the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title.
That contest was close while it lasted, but it ended as a disappointing no contest after Rasulov suffered an unintentional eye poke in the second round. The Turkish star is now hungrier than ever to earn another crack at the gold, and Abevi is standing in his way.
Before he returns to action at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, we dive into five key facts about Rasulov.
#1 Dagestani-Bred Wrestling
Although he represents Turkey on the global stage, Rasulov was born and raised in the combat sports hotbed of Dagestan, Russia.
Like many of his compatriots, his introduction to martial arts came first through wrestling. While he would soon add Muay Thai and MMA training to his regimen, the foundation of his game still consists of powerful takedowns, suffocating pressure, and a relentless grappling attack.
Without question, he’s one of the lightweight MMA division’s most feared wrestlers – and arguably among the very best takedown artists on the planet.
#2 An MMA Phenom At An Early Age
With his background in elite wrestling, Rasulov found little difficulty in transitioning to the all-around sport of mixed martial arts, which he did in 2012 at the age of 20.
Training out of the respected Gorets Fight Team in Dagestan, he made his amateur debut in 2013 and quickly captured the attention of European MMA fans as a top talent on the rise.
#3 An Unblemished Professional Record
Rasulov turned pro in 2016, and even though he was competing in perhaps the toughest regional MMA circuit on the planet, he amassed an incredible 13-0 record prior to the call-up from ONE Championship.
It’s worth noting that Rasulov was so physically imposing, so skilled, and so dangerous that he struggled to find willing opponents during his climb to the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Still, he spent his time traveling around Russia and Europe in search of the toughest challenges available.
#4 Seeks Out Elite Training
A constant student of the game, Rasulov has continued to evolve as a competitor by training at the famed Hyperion Fighters gym in Turkey.
Home to a number of top international fighters, including former ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Jamal Yusupov, the gym and its instructors have helped shape Rasulov into a well-rounded athlete who is dangerous when grappling or striking.
#5 A Ground-And-Pound Expert
Rasulov is among the most proficient and brutal ground-and-pound artists competing in MMA today.
To date, he’s employed his vicious ground strikes to rack up six TKO finishes in his career. And even if he doesn’t get the stoppage via strikes, he can use them to find a fight-ending submission, as he boasts four career victories by tap-out.
