ONE Championship signs Iranian MMA star Amir Aliakbari – ‘I’m going to invade their heavyweight division’

Ali Abdelaziz brings former Rizin star into ONE’s heavyweight ranks hot on the heels of fellow Dominance client Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida

‘I believe I'm the best heavyweight in the world today. I'm unstoppable … no one is safe,’ says the former Greco-Roman wrestling world champ

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Amir Aliakbari signs a contract with Dominance MMA Management. Photo: Instagram/@amiraliakbari60

Published: 5:10pm, 4 Aug 2020Updated: 5:10pm, 4 Aug 2020

Ali Abdelaziz told SCMP MMA he would be bringing “a lot of muscle” to ONE Championship, and the Dominance MMA Management CEO is delivering on his promise.

Hot on the heels of 13-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Marcus “Bucheha” Almeida signing his first MMA contract with the Asian martial arts organisation, Abdelaziz told ESPN that ONE has brought on his client Amir Aliakbari, a former Greco-Roman wrestling world champ.

Almeida and the Iranian 32-year-old Aliakbari (10-1) will strengthen ONE’s heavyweight division, ruled by former UFC star Brandon Vera. Aliakbari had signed with the UFC last year, but withdrew after a doping suspension given by the international amateur wrestling governing body, which banned him for life from competing in the sport for his second offence.

“My name is Amir Aliakbari,” he told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “This is the real Iron Sheikh, the pride of Iran. USA have one guy named Iron Sheikh but he's a fake – fake wrestler.

“I'm glad to sign with ONE Championship, I'm going to invade their heavyweight division, and fight [champion] Brandon Vera. When I'm finished with him they're not going to recognise him because I will disfigure his face.