Prospect in the Spotlight (May 31-June 1): Ali Abdulkhalikov

Introduction

Friday, May 31st, Russian lightweight prospect Ali Abdulkhalikov will be in action for ACA, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Davi Ramos. He will be looking for another win, as Abdulkhalikov looks to inch closer to a contract with the UFC. He represents Golden Team, a solid camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”

Strengths

Striking: Abdulkhalikov has a Wushu Sanda background, which means he tends to enjoy striking on the feet. He has very good kicks and fast hands. Most of his wins come by decision, where he puts on a technical striking display. He does have five knockouts on his resume, including finishes with kicks and punches. Early in his career, he knocked out now-UFC contender Joel Alvarez with a head kick, which is a major victory.

Strength of Schedule: In addition to besting Alvarez, Abdulkhalikov has fought a tough schedule of fighters to good success. He owns victories over another top prospect in Nariman Abbasov (Contender Series vet) and UFC veteran Alexander Yakovlev, and has shared the cage with UFC vet Tatsuya Kawajiri (in a losing effort). Now he has a UFC veteran in Davi Ramos on his plate, so another UFC vet scalp would really boost his resume more.

Needs Improvement

Defensive Grappling: Even going back to his amateur days, Adulkhalikov’s armor chink is when he is taken down. He can be controlled from top position by solid wrestlers, as was seen against Kawajiri and Raul Tutarauli. He’s not easy to get down, as you have to get in his striking range, but when he is taken down, he can be held there by his opponent.

Outlook

Regional Champion: At 30 years old, Abdulkhalikov is in the prime of his career and his shot at getting in the UFC or PFL is probably dwindling sooner than later. He has proven he can hang with good talent and should be in the big leagues, but will likely continue his run of excellence with ACA, a strong promotion in its own right. He could eventually become champion there or another top Russian promotion.