Ikram Aliskerov has become the savior for UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia, as he replaced Khamzat Chimaev and got ready to fight Robert Whittaker on short notice. After winning both fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the Russian fighter will be now looking forward to defeating ‘The Reaper’. With Aliskerov and Whittaker ending the event on the 22nd of June, the excitement amongst the fight fans is palpable. 

Although the middleweight fighter has an impressive record of 15 wins and a single defeat in his combat sports career, his upcoming fight holds the most significance. But today, let us see how much Aliskerov weighs when he’s outside the Octagon.

How much does Ikram Aliskerov weigh during fight night?

Aliskerov competes in the middleweight category, with weight at 185 lbs. The six-foot-tall mixed martial artist has indeed drawn quite a bit of attention to himself. But recently, the fight fans pointed out his massive size. The last time he stepped on the scales, he was 186 lbs, which is the exact number for the upper limit of the middleweight division.

Aliskerov hails from Dagestan and even has ties with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. In a recent post on Instagram, the fighter had a photo clicked with him in the middle, ‘The Eagle’ on his right, and the current undisputed UFC lightweight champion on his left. The text on the picture read, “Islam Makhachev standing next to middleweight contender Ikram Aliskerov. They look like they’re fighting in the same weightclass.”

To add to it all, the picture also showed the height and weight of the martial artists. While Makhachev and Nurmagomedov were both 5’10”, Makhachev’s weight was 155 lbs and that of the former champ was 200 lbs. Aliskerov’s weight was listed to be 185 lbs. It is thus safe to say that he walks around as a true middleweight. All he has to do is stay the same weight to make weight.

Looking at the picture, the fight fans kept wondering whether Aliskerov trained under Nurmagomedov. Well, your luck has brought you to the right spot. Let’s take a look at the Russian mixed martial artist’s coaching and training history.

Did Khabib Nurmagomedov train Aliskerov?

Even though ‘The Eagle’ and Aliskerov share the same homeland, they belong to different teams. Aliskerov trains with the KHK MMA Team, one of the most renowned gyms in the country. He has trained under the Eldar Eldarov and has without a doubt made him proud. But different affiliations do not imply that the 31-year-old fighter never trained with the former UFC LW champ.

Aliskerov sought guidance from ‘The Eagle’ as well as his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, when the Dagestani team was on the rise. The middleweight fighter looked up to Nurmagomedov quite often, and his social media posts are proof of it. Needless to say, training under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov has turned Aliskerov into a fine warrior. With Sambo and Judo at his disposal, the fighter poses a great danger to Whittaker in their upcoming fight. 

Dana White rightfully chose Aliskerov to replace the “violently ill” Chechen Wolf, don’t you think? Aliskerov’s only loss came at Chimaev’s hands under the banner of Pride & Honor, as ‘Borz’ knocked Aliskerov with a punch. Needless to say, the Russian’s victories often ended with finishing moves. With his strong grappling skills and striking prowess, the MMA world is sure to witness a phenomenal middleweight fight.

What do you think of Aliskerov’s size? Do you think he can defeat Whittaker and remain undefeated in the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.