Cannonier vs Aliskerov: Power Meets Sambo in Doha

Jared Cannonier walks into Doha at 42, against a man who came into the sport as a combat sambo world champion. Cannonier, ranked eleventh at middleweight, meets the 33-year-old Dagestani Ikram Aliskerov, ranked thirteenth, nine years his junior. The American fought Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title in 2022 and remains one of a handful of fighters to have knocked out opponents in three weight classes.

Cannonier has 11 knockouts among his 18 wins, but seven of his ten defeats came by decision — he is hard to put away and often goes the distance. Aliskerov has 18 wins, 12 of them early, seven by knockout and five by submission; both of his career losses came by knockout, to Khamzat Chimaev in 2019 and Robert Whittaker in 2024.

Form is pulling them in opposite directions. Cannonier has lost his last two, both by decision, and has not had his hand raised since February 2025; Aliskerov has won three straight and has not been beaten since 2024. UFC Fight Night Doha tickets.