Introduction
Alexander Andreevich Yakovlev (Russian: Александр Андреевич Яковлев; born July 18, 1984), also known as Sultan Magomedovich Tikhaev (Султан Магомедович Тихаев), is a Russian amateur wrestler, mixed martial artist and rapper. Yakovlev is recognized as an aggressive welterweight competitor who competed in the M-1 Global, ProFC, Shooto Russia, and Bodog Fight promotions. Yakovlev’s martial arts background included training in Sambo and Freestyle Wrestling prior to turning his attention to professional fighting at the age of nineteen. He is currently fighting in the welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Mixed martial arts career
M-Global
At the age of 19, Alexander made his professional MMA debut in a tournament for M-1 Global.
Yakovlev faced Shamil Zavurov on March 16, 2012 at M-1 Challenge 31, with the fight ending in a draw (judges scorecards: 29–28 Zavurov, 28–28, 28–28)
Yakovlev faced Rashid Magomedov on November 15, 2012 at M-1 Challenge 35. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Yakovlev faced Murad Abdulaev on April 9, 2013 at M-1 Challenge 38. He won via split decision.
Yakovlev faced UFC veteran Paul Daley on November 8, 2013 at Legend 2. He won via unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On January 6, 2014, Yakovlev signed a contract with the UFC.
Yakovlev was initially expected to make his debut against Yan Cabral on May 10, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 40. However, on April 9, Yakovlev was moved to The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale card as he replaced an injured Mike Pierce against Demian Maia. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Yakovlev fought Nico Musoke on October 4, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 53. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Yakovlev next dropped to the lightweight division and faced Gray Maynard on April 4, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 63. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Yakovlev faced George Sullivan in the Welterweight at UFC on Fox 18 on January 30, 2016. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Yakovlev was expected to face Ryan LaFlare on July 23, 2016 at UFC on Fox 20. However, LaFlare pulled out of the fight in early June after sustaining an undisclosed injury and replaced by Kamaru Usman. He lost the one-sided fight via unanimous decision.
Yakovlev faced Zak Cummings at UFC Fight Night 99 on November 19, 2016.He lost the fight by submission due to armbar in the second round.
Yakovlev was expected to return from an extended hiatus to face Teemu Packalen on April 20, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 149.However on April 4, 2019 it was reported that Packalen pull out for undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Alex da Silva Coelho. Yakovlev won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.
Yakovlev was scheduled to face Vinc Pichel on November 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 21 However, Pichel pulled out of the fight on October 24 citing an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Roosevelt Roberts. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Amateur career
Hand-to-hand combat
On 27–30 March 2013, Yakovlev became the Russian national HTHC champion. He beat Alexei Nazarov, Andrey Koreshkov and Alexander Stetsurenko.
He has the rank "master of sports in freestyle wrestling." Yakovlev's brother, Rasul Tikhaev, is a member of Belarus National Freestyle Wrestling Team.
Championships and accomplishments
Sambo
- Russian Combat Sambo Federation
- Medalist Russian Sambo Championship
Hand-to-hand combat
- Russian Union of Martial Arts
- Medalist Russian Hand-to-hand combat Championships
- Russian National Champion
Freestyle Wrestling
- All-Russian Wrestling Federation
- Medalist of Freestyle Wrestling National Tournament
Grappling
- NAGA
- World Champion (2014, 187 lbs)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 36 matches | 25 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 9 | 4 |
| By decision | 7 | 5 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 24–9–1 | Roosevelt Roberts | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar | November 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 24–8–1 | Alex da Silva Coelho | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik | April 20, 2019 | 2 | 3:10 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 23–8–1 | Zak Cummings | Submission (straight armbar) | UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2 | November 19, 2016 | 2 | 3:25 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Catchweight (172.8 lbs) bout; Cummings missed weight. |
| Loss | 23–7–1 | Kamaru Usman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko | July 23, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 23–6–1 | George Sullivan | KO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader | January 30, 2016 | 1 | 3:59 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 22–6–1 | Gray Maynard | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas | April 4, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 21–6–1 | Nico Musoke | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story | October 4, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Loss | 21–5–1 | Demian Maia | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale: Miocic vs. Maldonado | May 31, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 21–4–1 | Paul Daley | Decision (unanimous) | Legend: Part 2: Invasion | November 8, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 20–4–1 | Reinaldo da Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Fightspirit Championship 1 | September 8, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Kolpino, Russia | |
| Win | 19–4–1 | Murad Abdulaev | Decision (split) | M-1 Challenge 38 | April 9, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Loss | 18–4–1 | Rashid Magomedov | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 35 | November 15, 2012 | 5 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | For the M-1 Global Welterweight Championship. |
| Draw | 18–3–1 | Shamil Zavurov | Draw (majority) | M-1 Challenge 31 | March 16, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 18–3 | Juan Manuel Suarez | TKO (punches) | M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson | November 20, 2011 | 2 | 3:55 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 17–3 | Christian Eckerlin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 25: Zavurov vs. Enomoto | April 28, 2011 | 2 | 3:14 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 16–3 | Dimitri Anghelou | Submission (rear-naked choke) | IM 1: Team Saint Petersburg vs. Team France | December 18, 2010 | 2 | 3:40 | Cherepovets, Russia | |
| Win | 15–3 | Khamid Gereyhanov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Draka: Governor's Cup 2010 | December 18, 2010 | 1 | N/A | Khabarovsk, Russia | |
| Win | 14–3 | Vahe Tadevosyan | Submission (triangle choke) | ProFC: Union Nation Cup 7 | August 6, 2010 | 1 | 4:55 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | Middleweight bout. |
| Loss | 13–3 | Jacob McClintock | Submission (armbar) | fightFORCE: Day of Anger | February 28, 2009 | 1 | 4:59 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 13–2 | Yuri Pulaev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shooto Russia: Against The War | September 26, 2008 | 1 | 3:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 12–2 | Alexander Kokoev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bodog Fight: USA vs. Russia | November 30, 2007 | 2 | 4:43 | Moscow, Russia | Return to Middleweight. |
| Win | 11–2 | Gigam Matevosian | Decision (unanimous) | PGM: Russia vs. Novgorod | November 24, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Velikiy Novgorod, Russia | |
| Win | 10–2 | Gigam Matevosian | Submission (triangle choke) | PGM: Russia vs. Novgorod | April 28, 2007 | 2 | 2:15 | Velikiy Novgorod, Russia | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 9–2 | Karl Amoussou | Submission (armbar) | M-1 MFC: International Mix Fight | March 17, 2007 | 1 | 1:44 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 9–1 | Ishkhan Zakharian | TKO (punches) | M-1: International Fight Night 6 | November 18, 2006 | 1 | 3:26 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 8–1 | Andrei Simykin | TKO (punches) | M-1: Mix-Fight Tournament | October 12, 2006 | 3 | 1:40 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 7–1 | Alexander Grebenkin | TKO (punches) | M-1 MFC: Mix-fight | June 15, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 6–1 | Oleg Glazunov | KO (punches) | M-1 MFC: New Blood | October 1, 2005 | 2 | 1:40 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 5–1 | Danila Veselov | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 MFC: Mix-fight | April 10, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 4–1 | Artur Korchemny | TKO (punches) | CF: Champions Fight | February 25, 2005 | 1 | 3:20 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 3–1 | Dmitry Sokov | TKO (punches) | M-1 MFC: International Fight Nights | February 5, 2005 | 1 | 1:32 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Magomed Tugayev | Submission (armbar) | M-1 MFC: Mix-Fight | May 21, 2004 | N/A | N/A | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Vladimir Magomedshayshafiev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 MFC: Mix-Fight | April 10, 2004 | N/A | N/A | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Vladimir Magomedshayshafiev | TKO (punches) | M-1 MFC: Mix-Fight | February 21, 2004 | N/A | N/A | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Welterweight debut. |
Discography
- Examen (Exam) (2011)
- Bad Boy with D.Masta (2011)
- Money Power (2012)