Ali Abdelaziz
Ali Ibrahim Abdelaziz (Arabic: علي عبدالعزيز) is an Egyptian mixed martial arts manager.[1]
| Ali Ibrahim Abdelaziz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ali Ibrahim Abdelaziz December 5, 1977 Cairo, Egypt |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg; 11 st 0 lb) |
| Division | Welterweight (2005-2007) Lightweight (2004) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Style | Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2003-2007 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 4 |
| Wins | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By submission | 3 |
Abdelaziz is the founder and president of Dominance MMA Management. Through his company, Abdelaziz manages several former UFC champions, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje and Henry Cejudo, among others.[2][3] He also manages the PFL's former lightweight champion Kayla Harrison and former featherweight champion Lance Palmer.[1]
Abdelaziz had a brief career as a fighter before he became a manager.[4]
Controversies
Informant work
Abdelaziz was recruited by the New York Police Department to work undercover within a Virginia-based arm of a group called Muslims of America. The NYPD shared Abdelaziz with the FBI, but the federal agency eventually began to suspect he was operating as a double agent, particularly after he was reportedly administered a polygraph examination.[5][6] This information was popularized in the book Enemies Within, written by American Journalists Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo, and was used by Conor McGregor in an attempt to antagonise Abdelaziz at the UFC 229 press conference.[5]
UFC 268 altercation
Abdelaziz was involved in an altercation with Bellator MMA fighter Dillon Danis at UFC 268 on November 6, 2021 where he allegedly slapped Danis backstage at the event.[7]
Mixed martial arts record
| 4 matches | 1 win | 3 losses |
| By submission | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1–3 | Caol Uno | Submission (armbar) | K-1 HERO'S 8 | March 12, 2007 | 1 | 1:58 | Nagoya, Japan | [8] |
| Loss | 1–2 | Rocky Johnson | Submission (armbar) | Ring of Fire 26 | September 9, 2006 | 1 | 2:50 | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | [8] |
| Loss | 1–1 | Takuhiro Kamikozono | Submission (heel hook) | Ring of Fire 19 | September 10, 2005 | 1 | 1:11 | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | [8] |
| Win | 1–0 | Chee Bates | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ring of Fire 12 | May 22, 2004 | 1 | 1:44 | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | [8] |
Submission grappling record
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| Result | Rec. | Opponent | Method | Time | Event | Division | Type | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 |  Shinya Aoki | Submission (flying armbar) | 0:12 | Rickson Gracie's Budo Challenge | Middleweight | Gi | October 19, 2005 |  Los Angeles, CA |
References
- Scott, Matthew (28 March 2020). "Meet Ali Abdelaziz, the man behind UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov who 'makes everything happen' in MMA". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- Martine, Adam (24 May 2020). "Ali Abdelaziz offers Conor McGregor a title shot against Kamaru Usman with unique stipulations". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- "Justin Gaethje's Manager To Conor McGregor: Fight Ferguson If You Want Title Shot". TMZ Sports. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- Sherdog.com. "Ali Ibrahim Abdelaziz MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
- Bieler, Des (October 4, 2018). "Conor McGregor accuses Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager of being a terrorist". Washington Post.
- Goldman, Adam; Apuzzo, Matt (September 3, 2013). Enemies Within: Inside the NYPD's Secret Spying Unit and bin Laden's Final Plot Against America. Touchstone.
- "Dillon Danis Reportedly Slapped by Ali Abdelaziz at UFC 268". 8 November 2021.
- "Ali Ibrahim Abdelaziz". Sherdog. Retrieved 25 May 2020.