Khadis Ibragimov is highlighted as the best Russian fighter at career resurrection after leaving UFC with a 0-4 record in 2020. Since departing UFC at age 24, he has compiled approximately 13-3-3 across 19 fights under various rulesets and increased his purses by 4-5 times, now earning an estimated 5-6 million rubles per fight. He will make his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola (7-0), who is 12 kg lighter. The card also features Tony Johnson, who has defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, facing Kirill Kornilov.
Khadis Ibragimov will make his ACA debut on April 12 at ACA 202, returning to the spotlight after one of the more remarkable post-UFC rebuilds in recent Russian MMA history.
Ibragimov left the UFC in 2020 with a 0-4 record, having made his promotional debut at just 24 years old. Since then, he has gone on to compile an approximate 13-3-3 record across 19 fights under various rulesets, a turnaround that has earned him recognition as one of the standout career resurrection stories in Russian heavyweight MMA. His financial trajectory has followed suit, with his per-fight earnings now estimated at five to six million rubles — roughly four to five times what he was making before. His opponent at ACA 202 is undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola, who carries a perfect 7-0 record into the bout. Matsola comes in approximately 12 kilograms lighter than Ibragimov, a size disadvantage that adds an interesting physical dimension to the matchup.
Also featured on the ACA 202 card is Tony Johnson, who holds an 11-3-0 record and stands six-foot-one with a 53 percent striking accuracy and two takedowns per 15 minutes. Johnson's resume includes victories over Derrick Lewis, former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, who currently sits ranked number one in the UFC heavyweight division at 40-11-0. Johnson faces Kirill Kornilov on the same card.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's ACA debut marks a significant step up in organizational profile after his post-UFC rebuild
- Matsola's unbeaten record at 7-0 makes him a credible test despite the weight disadvantage
- Johnson's presence adds veteran heavyweight credibility to the card, given his wins over notable names including the top-ranked Volkov
