Sultan Aliev

Sultan Magomedbegovich Aliev (Russian: Султан Магомедбегович Алиев; Avar: Султан Гӏалиев; born September 17, 1984, Dagestan) is an Avar heritage born in Russia mixed martial artist and sambist, who competes in the Welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is also a veteran of the ProFC organization and Bellator MMA.

Sultan Aliev was born in Kaspiysk, Dagestan, Soviet Union. He is a Russian of Avar descent and a devout Sunni Muslim. He started in Combat Sambo in 23 years old, on 2009 he won Combat Sambo European Championship in Milan, Italy. On 2010 he received the rank "International Master of Sports in Combat Sambo" After Russian Combat Sambo Nationals 2011 (3rd), he made his professional MMA debut in ProFC and won the first fight to Sergey Guzev.

Sambo career

On February 5, 2012 Aliev lost to Vyacheslav Vasilevsky on Combat Sambo Russia Championship 2012 Finale (-90 kg) via decision (1–5).

On February 24, 2014 Aliev won against Vyacheslav Vasilevsky on Combat Sambo Russia Championship 2014 Finale (-90 kg) via TKO.

On 24 November 2014 Aliev became World Combat Sambo Champion (-90 kg). In finale match he over French Sebastian Libebe via TKO.

In Russian Nationals 2016 he lost to Khadis Ibragimov by knockout in semifinal and retired from the championship.

ProFC

Aliev started his MMA career in ProFC in April 2011. He defeated Sergey Guzev on April 9, 2011 at ProFC 14 via unanimous decision.

Aliev defeated Armenian MMA prospect Hracho Darpinyan on July 2, 2011 at ProFC - Union Nation Cup Final via unanimous decision.

Aliev defeated Fuad Gadyrov on September 26, 2011 at ProFC: Grand Prix Global. He won via KO in the second round.

Aliev defeated taekwondo black belt Marcin Elsner on December 10, 2011 at ProFC: Grand Prix Global Finals. He won via TKO in the first round.

Bellator MMA

In 2013, Aliev was announced as one of the participants of the Bellator Season 8 Middleweight tournament.

Aliev debuted on February 14, 2013 at Bellator 89 where he faced Mikkel Parlo in the quarterfinal round. Aliev won the fight via unanimous decision to advance to the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Aliev faced Doug Marshall on March 7, 2013 at Bellator 92. Despite controlling the fight via his wrestling, Aliev lost via split decision, resulting in his first professional MMA loss.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On May 7, 2014 it was announced that Aliev had signed a contract with the UFC.

Aliev made his promotional debut against Kenny Robertson in a welterweight bout on January 24, 2015 at UFC on Fox 14. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Aliev was expected to face Hyun Gyu Lim on August 20, 2016 at UFC 202. However, Aliev pulled out of the fight in early August citing a wrist injury. Lim will now face promotional newcomer Mike Perry.

Aliev faced Bojan Veličković on December 17, 2016 at UFC on Fox 22. He won the fight via split decision.

Sambo

• Federation Internationale de Sambo (FIAS)
  • World Combat Sambo Championships (2014, Chiba)
• World Combat Sambo Federation
  • European Combat Sambo Championships (2012, Moscow)
• All-Russian Sambo Federation
  • Russian Combat Sambo National Championships 3rd (2010, 2011)
  • Russian Combat Sambo National Championships runner-up (2012)
  • Russian Combat Sambo National Champion (2014, World team-trials)