An in-depth profile examines Khadis Ibragimov's remarkable career resurgence after leaving the UFC with an 0-4 record in 2020. Since departing the promotion at age 24 with an 8-4 overall record, Ibragimov has competed in approximately 19 fights across various rule sets, accumulating a 13-3-3 record. He claims to have increased his fight purses by 4-5 times compared to his UFC earnings, now making approximately 5-6 million rubles per bout. The analysis notes this is exceptional compared to other Russian fighters who struggled post-UFC. Ibragimov will make his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola (7-0), who is 12 kg lighter. The same card features Tony Johnson, who has defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, facing Kirill Kornilov. The event begins at 16:30 local time.
Khadis Ibragimov will make his ACA debut on April 12 when he squares off against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola in a matchup that marks a significant milestone in one of the more unconventional career rebounds in Russian MMA.
Ibragimov's story has drawn considerable attention in the region. He left the UFC in 2020 at just 24 years old after going 0-4 inside the promotion, carrying an 8-4 overall record at the time of his departure. Rather than fading from the sport, he threw himself back into competition across multiple rule sets, amassing a 13-3-3 record in roughly 19 fights since then. According to the profile examining his resurgence, he now earns approximately 5-6 million rubles per bout — a figure he says represents four to five times what he made during his UFC tenure, an outcome described as exceptional among Russian fighters who have struggled to find footing after leaving the promotion.
His opponent, Daniil Matsola, enters the bout with a perfect 7-0 professional record. Notably, Matsola comes in around 12 kilograms lighter than Ibragimov, making the size disparity one of the more unusual elements of the matchup at heavyweight.
The same card will feature Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3-0 record and stands six-foot-one with a 53 percent striking accuracy and two takedowns per 15 minutes. Johnson has notable wins over recognizable names including Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia — a six-foot-eight former champion who holds a 31-10-0 record — and Alexander Volkov, the current number-one ranked UFC heavyweight at 40-11-0. Johnson's opponent is Kirill Kornilov. The event begins at 16:30 local time.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's post-UFC record and reported earnings make him one of the more prominent Russian fighters to successfully rebuild outside a major promotion
- Matsola's undefeated record and lighter frame create a stylistically intriguing contrast at heavyweight
- Johnson's presence adds established name value to the card given his wins over ranked and former elite opponents
