Amir Aliakbari

Amir Aliakbari, 32, of Tehran, Iran is motivated to resume his career in ONE Championship. The Iranian former gold medalist and Greco-Roman wrestling world champion signed with the Singapore-based martial arts promotion.

“I had many great offers from many promotions but ONE Championship was the only promotion that saw my vision,” Aliakbari stated. “For ONE, it wasn’t just another contract but rather a bridge they were willing to build between me and my country and MMA. This was very important for me.”

“ONE Championship has many great fighters and I enjoy watching their fights,” the Iranian mixed martial artist continued. “No specific names come to mind but I enjoy watching all their fights as their level of competition is very high and tactical.”

Currently, Aliakbari holds a professional MMA record of 10 wins and 0 loss. Before joining ONE Championship, the Iranian MMA fighter competed in Full Metal Dojo, Real Fight Championship, RIZIN Fighting Federation and Absolute Championship Akhmat.

Aliakbari competes in the heavyweight division. ONE Championship’s reigning champion in this division is Brandon “The Truth” Vera, 42, of the Philippines.

“I only want one fight and that’s Brandon Vera,” Aliakbari said. “This is the fight to make.”

However, Aliakbari is not the only new addition to the heavyweight division of ONE Championship who is looking forward to challenging Vera. Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, 30, of São Paulo, Brazil recently joined the martial arts organization and the EVOLVE Fight Team, which are both based in Singapore.

Including Vera, Cerilli, Aliakbari, Bhullar and Almeida, there are currently nine fighters in ONE Championship’s heavyweight division. The others are Alain “The Panther” Ngalani, 45, of Cameroon and Hong Kong, Alexandre “Bebezão” Machado, 37, of Brazil, Myung Hyun Man (명현만), 35, of South Korea and Anatoly Malykhin, 32, of Russia

“None of these heavyweights can last in the cage or ring with me including Brandon,” Aliakbari said. “I ask ONE to give me Brandon and I promise to smash him brutally.”