UFC signs top heavyweight Amir Aliakbari despite doping history

Karan Gill• ·
SAITAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 31: Amir Aliakbari of Iran celebrates his decision victory in the Semi-Final bout against Valentin Moldavsky of Russia during the RIZIN Fighting World GP 2016 final round at Saitama Super Arena on December 31, 2016 in Saitama, Japan.
Etsuo Hara / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The UFC inked a deal with Amir Aliakbari on Saturday, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

Aliakbari, a previously unsigned top heavyweight, has won two wrestling world championships. However, a failed drug test in 2013 resulted in him being stripped of one title.

That marked his second doping penalty after he was banned from the 2012 Summer Olympics for a similar violation.

Aliakbari has won five straight MMA fights and holds a 10-1 record. His only loss came against legend Mirko Cro Cop. In his most recent fights, Aliakbari has beaten UFC veteran Daniel Omielanczuk and Shelton Graves.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS

More Stories