Khadis Ibragimov makes his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola (7-0), who weighs 12 kg less than him. After leaving UFC in 2020 with an 0-4 record over 13 months, Ibragimov has gone approximately 13-3-3 across 19 fights under various rulesets since then. He claims his purses have increased four to five times compared to his UFC earnings, now making an estimated 5-6 million rubles per fight. The ACA 202 card also features Tony Johnson, who has previously defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, facing Kirill Kornilov. The event starts at 16:30 local time.
Russian heavyweight Khadis Ibragimov steps into ACA competition for the first time on April 12 at ACA 202, where he faces undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola in what shapes up as a notable size mismatch on the card.
Ibragimov, 31, carries a verified record of 8-4-0 and represents Sambo Piter out of Russia. Standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach, the orthodox fighter brings genuine offensive output to the table, averaging 3.55 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He also contributes on the ground, averaging nearly one takedown per 15 minutes. Ibragimov departed the UFC in 2020 after going 0-4 across 13 months there, but has since rebuilt his career across approximately 19 fights under various rulesets, posting a record of roughly 13-3-3 in that stretch. He has stated his per-fight earnings have grown four to five times compared to what he made in the UFC, now reportedly in the range of 5-6 million rubles per appearance.
His opponent Matsola enters the bout undefeated at 7-0 and is reported to weigh around 12 kilograms less than Ibragimov, a considerable disadvantage at heavyweight.
The ACA 202 card also features Tony Johnson, who holds an 11-3-0 record and stands six-foot-one. Johnson, a striker landing two significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy, is no stranger to high-profile competition, having previously defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov. He takes on Kirill Kornilov on the same card.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's ACA debut tests whether his post-UFC rebuild translates against a fresh, unbeaten opponent
- The 12-kilogram weight gap between Ibragimov and Matsola makes the heavyweight bout an unusual stylistic puzzle
- Johnson's presence adds credibility to the card given his history against recognized names in the division
- ACA 202 gets underway at 16:30 local time
