UFC Vegas 70: Who is Nurullo Aliev?
UFC Vegas 70: Who is Nurullo Aliev?
UFC Vegas 70 takes place live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV this Saturday, Feb. 25. The event is headlined by a clash between two potential title challengers in Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann. While numerous fighters will be making their Octagon debut this Saturday, no fighter may be more intriguing of a prospect than undefeated Nurullo Aliev (8-0).
Aliev, nicknamed “The Tajik Eagle”, will make history this weekend when he becomes the first Tajikistani fighter to fight on an official UFC card. He previously fought on Dana White’s Contender Series. This will be the toughest test yet for the 23-year-old, as he takes on a dangerous UFC veteran in Rafael Alves (20-11).
Nurullo Aliev is the first Tajikistani fighter to compete in the UFC
There is a lot of hype surrounding Aliev this week and for good reason. Aside from making history as the first Tajikistani fighter in the UFC, Aliev’s skillset has proved difficult for opponents to deal with. He is a grappler through and through and will look to get the fight to the mat with a persistence that casual viewers may find monotonous. Whether or not you enjoy this style of fighting, it has proven effective thus far in Aliev’s career. The grappling prowess, dedication to the takedown, and impressive cardio have fans drawing comparisons between Aliev and former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
These comparisons run deeper than just their fighting style though. Nurmagomedov’s nickname was “The Eagle” or “The Eagle of Dagestan.” Nurmagomedov entered the UFC fighting at lightweight with an undefeated record, and Aliev will do the same. Nurmagomedov is known to sport a thick chin-curtain style beard, and Aliev is known to sport the same beard style. However you want to slice it, there is an undeniable resemblance between the two.
Some may scoff at the comparison between the great Nurmagomedov and the relatively unproven Aliev, and that is fair. Nurmagomedov has achieved greatness in MMA in a way that most will never come close to achieving. This unique success is exactly why MMA fans are so excited about the idea of a prospect with Khabib-like potential. This Saturday, against a true UFC-caliber opponent, Aliev will look to show the world that a dominant UFC run isn’t just an idea; it’s the reality for the future of the lightweight division.
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