Amir Aliakbari

In 2014, longtime MMA entrepreneur Mishal Abul personally found Aliakbari and got him into MMA. Abul was an investor with Paradigm Sports Management, so Aliakbari signed a management agreement with them.[6] At the same time, he signed on to train under UFC star Mike Swick of AKA Thailand in Phuket, Thailand, also training alongside UFC fighters Mark Hunt and Soa Palelei.[7] Aliakbari is the first world class Iranian wrestler to pursue an MMA career.[7]

Aliakbari made his professional MMA debut in October 2015, defeating Hyung Chul-Lee via TKO in the first round. His second bout came two months later as he defeated Radu Spinghel via TKO in the first round.[8]

In early 2016, it was announced that Aliakbari had signed with the Japanese promotion Rizin Fighting Federation. He made his debut in September in the first round of the Openweight Grand Prix against Joao Isidoro Almeida. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. Aliakbari was scheduled to face former UFC champion Shane Carwin in the quarter-finals in December 2016. However, Carwin withdrew from the tournament and he instead faced Heath Herring. Aliakbari won the bout by unanimous decision. In the final stage of the tournament on December 31, Aliakbari faced Valentin Moldavsky. He won the fight via split decision.[9] He then faced Mirko Cro Cop in the finals on the same night and lost the fight via knockout.[10] He then defeated Geronimo dos Santos and Tyler King via TKO.[11]

In December 2017 Aliakbari announced his departure from Rizin and his joining of ACB. His first opponent was Denis Smoldarev, whom Aliakbari defeated via technical knockout at 2:27 of the first round on March 24, 2018. He was set to have four opponents in ACB.

It was reported that Aliakbari was signed by the UFC on June 6, 2019 after he offered compensation to the ACA for early termination of his contract, where the compensation sum was donated to charity.[12] He withdrew from the UFC due to a doping ban handed down by the international amateur wrestling governing body, as well as US sanctions.[13]

In August 2020 news broke that Aliakbari had signed with the ONE Championship.[14] He was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Islam Abasov at ONE Championship: Big Bang on December 4, 2020.[15] However, Abasov withdrew from the fight after being detained following a road incident in his native Russia.[16]

Aliakbari faced Kang Ji Won at ONE Championship: Fists of Fury 2 on March 5, 2021.[17] In a huge upset, Aliakbari lost to Kang by first-round knockout.[18]

Aliakbari faced Anatoly Malykhin at ONE Championship: Revolution on September 24, 2021.[19] He lost the bout, getting knocked unconscious again in the first round.[20]

Aliakbari faced Mauro Cerilli at ONE on Prime Video 1 on August 27, 2022.[21] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round, earning his first promotional victory.[22]

Aliakbari faced the former ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon Vera on December 3, 2022, at ONE 164.[23] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[24]

Aliakbari faced Dustin Joynson on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12.[25] He won the fight by first-round submission due to strikes.[26] The victory also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.[27]