Former UFC fighter Khadis Ibragimov is set to make his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Daniil Matsola (7-0), who weighs 12 kg less than Ibragimov. After leaving the UFC in 2020 with an 0-4 record over 13 months, Ibragimov has rebuilt his career with approximately 13-3-3 across 19 fights in various promotions. He claims to now earn four to five times more per fight than during his UFC tenure, estimated at 5-6 million rubles per bout. The post also notes that the same card features Tony Johnson, who has defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, facing Kirill Kornilov.
Former UFC heavyweight Khadis Ibragimov is scheduled to make his Absolute Championship Akhmat debut on April 12, stepping in against undefeated Russian prospect Daniil Matsola in what shapes up as a significant size mismatch at heavyweight.
Ibragimov's path to ACA has been a long road of rebuilding. After going 0-4 in the UFC across a 13-month stretch that ended in 2020, the heavyweight has since compiled a record of approximately 13-3-3 over 19 fights spread across various regional and international promotions. He has spoken openly about his finances improving dramatically since leaving the UFC, claiming to now earn four to five times more per bout than he did during his time with the organization, with current fight purses estimated around five to six million rubles per appearance.
Matsola enters the contest with a perfect 7-0 record, though he arrives at a notable physical disadvantage — approximately 12 kilograms lighter than Ibragimov heading into a heavyweight contest. Whether that gap translates inside the cage remains to be seen.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's ACA debut tests whether his regional-circuit resurgence holds up against a rising unbeaten prospect
- Matsola's undefeated record is on the line in what is likely his highest-profile fight to date
- The significant weight differential between the two fighters adds an unusual physical dynamic to a heavyweight matchup
The same card also features Tony Johnson, a heavyweight with an 11-3-0 record whose resume includes victories over notable names such as Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia — a former UFC champion who stands six-foot-eight with an 80-inch reach — and Alexander Volkov, currently ranked number one in the heavyweight division. Johnson, who stands six-foot-one and lands strikes at a rate of two significant strikes per minute with 53 percent accuracy, faces Kirill Kornilov on the same April 12 event.
