Once considered one of the more shallow divisions in the UFC, the Middleweight division has seen a dramatic rise of new talent and top contenders emerge in recent years. The next man to break into the rankings at 185 lbs and make a name for himself is a Dagestani fighter who has been touted for greatness, Ikram Aliskerov.
A background in Combat Sambo, where he was a multiple-time world champion, has prepared Aliskerov for life as an MMA fighter, and his Sambo base has given him an excellent foundation, ensuring that he has an extremely well-rounded skill set.