Is Ikram Aliskerov From Dagestan? Ethnicity, Religion and All About the UFC Middleweight’s Background

Ikram Aliskerov has found himself in what could possibly be the biggest fight in his UFC career so far! UFC CEO Dana White sent shockwaves through the MMA fandom when he announced that Khamzat Chimaev is out of the promotion’s first foray into Saudi Arabia on June 22 due to being, “violently ill”. ‘Borz’ was scheduled to take on Robert Whittaker in a crucial middleweight bout but due to his medical issues, Ikram Aliskerov has now been tapped in by the promotion to replace Chimaev.

Aliskerov made his way to the UFC by securing a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series 54 in 2022 and prior to joining the promotion, he had competed in combat sambo, Brave Combat Federation, and Eagle Fighting Championship. Now, as he gears up to take on a former middleweight champion in just his third UFC fight, let’s explore all we know about his ethnicity, origins, family, and more!

What is Ikram Aliskerov’s ethnicity? Which nation does he represent?

Ikram Aliskerov was born in the Kasumkent village of the Suleyman-Stalsky District in Dagestan, Russia on December 7, 1992. He belongs to the ‘Lezgin’ ethnic group known to hail predominantly from southern Dagestan and northeastern Azerbaijan. The term ‘Lezgi’ is reportedly derived from their word for eagle, ‘Lek’, which is also considered to be their national animal. However, many other sources have provided different interpretations of the term’s origin.

Aliskerov represents the nation of Russia and also has a history with former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his family, as his early days of training in sambo and judo were conducted by experts who came from Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s gym! In fact, sources online indicate that Khabib and Aliskerov also spent some time together in training camps when they were younger.

When Aliskerov turned 19, he received an invitation to join the renowned, ‘Champion’ club by coach, Esadull Emragaev, where he began to train in MMA, along with combat sambo. Aliskerov holds the distinction of being a 4-time world champion in combat sambo and a 2-time European champion, as well.

All about Aliskerov’s early life, family, and parents

Ikram Aliskerov’s father’s name is Sabir Aliskerov and not much else has been disclosed to the public about his personal life as the fighter prefers to keep his personal life away from the spotlight. This is a common theme among several Dagestani fighters.

Based on the already available information, Aliskerov’s journey into combat sports started when he began attending sambo and judo classes when he was in the 5th grade. Aliskerov competed in both MMA and combat sambo in the early part of his career. Regardless, in 2017, he began to dedicate himself to mixed martial arts only when he signed with Brave Combat Federation.

In fact, in 2019 at Brave CF 23, Aliskerov was handed the first and only loss of his professional career when he got knocked out by Khamzat Chimaev in the first round of their fight. Now, as he is set to replace the man who once knocked him out against Robert Whittaker, Aliskerov will be looking to continue his surge through the middleweight division and make his presence known in the UFC!