ONE Championship: Amir Aliakbari Plans To Continue Charging Up Heavyweight Ranks After Undefeated 2022

The
Iranian
superstar
bounced
back
in
August
when
he
defeated
former
ONE
Heavyweight
World
Title
challenger
Mauro
Cerilli.
He
then
returned
to
the
Circle
and
knocked
out
former
divisional
king
Brandon
Vera
at
ONE
164
earlier
this
month.

The
win
over
a
legend
like
Vera
was
particularly
significant
for
Aliakbari,
as
he
had
done
his
homework
before
stepping
into
the
Circle
with
the
Filipino-American
superstar.

“I
have
a
lot
of
respect
for
Vera.
He
has
a
very
good
past
in
MMA.
But
I
had
done
a
moment-by-moment
analysis
of
his
fights,
and
I
used
my
strength
to
finish
him,”
he
said.

“I
have
no
respect
for
my
opponents
before
a
fight.
But
after
the
fight,
I
love
them
all
because
we
create
history
together
in
our
lives.”

Now
that
he
has
finishes
over
two
of
the
top
heavyweights
on
the
roster
under
his
belt,
the
Greco-Roman
Wrestling
World
Champion
plans
to
push
on
to
new
heights
in
2023.

“This
year,
ONE
showcased
some
good
heavyweights,
and
all
of
them
are
good
fighters,
but
I
have
shown
that
my
level
is
much
higher
than
everyone
else’s,”
he
said.

“I
have
gathered
myself,
and
I
am
going
forward
with
all
my
strength
to
destroy
and
knock
out
my
opponents.”

Aliakbari
has
his
sights
set
on
the
heavyweight
strap
in
2023,
buoyed
by
renewed
confidence
from
his
two
wins
this
past
year.

While
he
is
confident
that
he
can
overcome
any
test
that
ONE
throws
his
way,
the
35-year-old
also
has
revenge
on
his
mind.

He
wishes
to
avenge
the
defeats
he
suffered
at
the
start
of
his
time
in
ONE,
but
he
also
wants
to
put
the
whole
of
the
rapidly
expanding
division
on
notice.

“I
don’t
care
who
I
fight
next.
I
will
fight
anyone.
But
I
would
like
it
if
ONE
gives
me
the
chance
to
have
a
rematch
with
Kang
Ji
Won,”
Aliakbari
said.

“I
direct
my
words
to
all
the
heavyweights:
Whoever
wants
to
fight
me,
just
tell
me
when
and
where.”

The
Iranian
star’s
resurgence
has
come
at
the
perfect
time,
as
ONE
embarks
on
expansion
efforts
into
the
Middle
East.

The
Singapore-based
promotion
recently
inked
a
broadcast
deal
with
beIN
SPORTS,
broadening
its
reach
in
the
region,
and
the
popular
mixed
martial
artist
could
well
spearhead
that
push
in
years
to
come.

“I
am
the
best
and
most
famous
fighter
in
the
Middle
East,
and
when
ONE
holds
their
first
card
in
the
Middle
East,
you
will
all
understand
what
I
mean.”
Aliakbari
proclaimed.

Source:
Media
Release