Khadis Ibragimov will make his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola (7-0), who is 12 kg lighter. The post highlights Ibragimov as the best Russian fighter at career resurrection, having gone 0-4 in UFC in 2020 before rebuilding with approximately 13-3-3 across 19 fights since then. He reportedly increased his fight purses by 4-5 times compared to UFC, now earning an estimated 5-6 million rubles per fight. The card also features Tony Johnson, who has defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, fighting Kirill Kornilov. The event begins at 16:30 local time.
Khadis Ibragimov will step into the ACA cage for the first time on April 12, facing undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola in what shapes up as a notable comeback story on the Russian regional scene.
Ibragimov arrives at this debut carrying one of the more dramatic career arcs in recent Russian MMA. After going 0-4 inside the UFC in 2020, he embarked on an extensive rebuilding campaign that produced an approximate record of 13-3-3 across 19 subsequent fights. Reports indicate he has multiplied his fight purses four to five times compared to his UFC earnings, now commanding an estimated five to six million rubles per outing — a figure that underlines how thoroughly he has rehabilitated his standing outside the world's top promotion.
Matsola enters the contest at 7-0 and unbeaten, though the summary notes he comes in roughly 12 kilograms lighter than his opponent. The weight gap adds an unusual dimension to a heavyweight matchup that already carries significance given Ibragimov's profile.
The card also features Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3-0 record and stands six-foot-one with a 53-percent striking accuracy and an active takedown rate of two per fifteen minutes. Johnson's resume includes victories over notable names: former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, who holds a career record of 31-10-0 and stands six-foot-eight, Derrick Lewis, and current UFC heavyweight number-one contender Alexander Volkov — a six-foot-seven Russian striker who lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57-percent accuracy. Johnson meets Kirill Kornilov on the same bill. The event begins at 16:30 local time.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's ACA debut tests whether his post-UFC rebuild translates against fresh, unbeaten opposition
- Matsola's undefeated record is on the line against a significantly heavier and more experienced opponent
- Johnson's presence adds international credibility to the card given his wins over high-profile heavyweights
