Khadis Ibragimov is set to make his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola (7-0), who is 12 kg lighter. After going 0-4 in the UFC in 2020 and leaving the promotion, Ibragimov has rebuilt his career impressively with a 13-3-3 record across 19 fights under various rulesets. He claims his fight purses have increased four to five times compared to his UFC earnings, now reportedly earning 5-6 million rubles per bout. The same card also features Tony Johnson, who has victories over Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, facing Kirill Kornilov. Ibragimov's career resurgence is highlighted as the best among Russian fighters who left the UFC, though questions remain about his consistency against elite opposition.
Russian heavyweight Khadis Ibragimov steps into ACA competition on April 12, taking on unbeaten Daniil Matsola in what marks Ibragimov's debut for the promotion.
Ibragimov, 31, enters with an 8-4-0 professional record and brings considerable physical tools to the heavyweight division. The Russian, who trains out of Sambo Piter, stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is an active striker, landing 3.55 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, while also mixing in takedown threats at nearly one attempt per 15 minutes. After going 0-4 during his UFC stint in 2020, Ibragimov rebuilt his career across multiple rulesets and 19 fights, accumulating what the summary describes as the most impressive post-UFC resurgence among Russian fighters who departed the promotion. He has reportedly seen his fight purses grow four to five times beyond what he earned in the UFC, now said to be in the range of 5-6 million rubles per bout.
His opponent, Daniil Matsola, enters the fight with a perfect 7-0 record and is reported to carry 12 kilograms less than Ibragimov, making the size disparity a notable element of the matchup.
The April 12 card also features veteran heavyweight Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3-0 record and holds notable wins over Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov. Johnson, standing six-foot-one at 185 cm, lands two significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy and adds two takedowns per 15 minutes to his arsenal. He faces Kirill Kornilov on the same card.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's ACA debut tests whether his post-UFC rebuild holds up against fresh, undefeated competition
- Matsola's 7-0 record and lighter frame create an unusual stylistic and physical puzzle for Ibragimov
- The Johnson-Kornilov bout adds heavyweight depth to a card with legitimate international name value
- Questions about Ibragimov's consistency against elite opposition remain the central storyline surrounding his participation
