ACA president Magomed Bibulatov made several official announcements at a press conference in Saint Petersburg. Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov has vacated his lightweight championship belt, with interim champion Daoud Shaikhayev now being elevated to undisputed champion status. ACA 204 in Omsk in July will feature Alexander Shlemenko versus Rashid Emeev as the main event, with Shkurevich versus Dudaev as co-main, plus Khabibulin versus Grozin and Matmuratov versus Sulumov. ACA 206 in Moscow in August will showcase two title fights: A. Vakhaev versus Amir Aliakbari as the headliner and Shaikhayev versus Bakhram Tumenov as the co-main event. These announcements represent a significant reshaping of ACA's championship landscape and upcoming schedule.
ACA president Magomed Bibulatov used a press conference in Saint Petersburg to outline a series of major organizational changes and upcoming events, confirming new matchups and a championship elevation that will reshape the promotion's landscape heading into summer.
The first significant announcement concerned the lightweight title. Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov has vacated the championship belt, and interim champion Daoud Shaikhayev has been elevated to undisputed status, giving ACA a new full champion at 155 pounds.
ACA 204, scheduled for Omsk in July, will be headlined by a middleweight clash between Alexander Shlemenko and Rashid Emeev. Shlemenko, nicknamed Storm, is one of Russian MMA's most recognizable names. The 42-year-old carries a remarkable 56-9-0 record and is known for relentless pressure, averaging 4.36 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate. The Omsk card will also feature Shkurevich versus Dudaev in the co-main event, with Khabibulin versus Grozin and Matmuratov versus Sulumov rounding out the announced bouts.
ACA 206, set for Moscow in August, delivers two title fights. The headliner sees Iranian heavyweight Amir Aliakbari put his unbeaten ACA run on the line. Aliakbari stands six feet three inches tall and holds a 10-1-0 professional record. He trains out of AKA Thailand and, at 42 years old, remains one of the more physically imposing fighters on the roster. The co-main event will serve as Shaikhayev's first defense as undisputed lightweight champion, as he faces the highly experienced Bakhram Tumenov.
Why it matters
- Shaikhayev's elevation creates a clearly defined undisputed lightweight title picture following Abdulvakhabov's vacancy
- Shlemenko versus Emeev is a high-profile domestic matchup that carries significant weight in ACA's middleweight division
- The Aliakbari title fight adds international flavor to the Moscow card and tests a fighter with just one professional loss
