Khadis Ibragimov, who left the UFC in 2020 with an 0-4 record, has rebuilt his career impressively with approximately 13-3-3 across 19 fights under various rulesets since then. He now reportedly earns 5-6 million rubles per fight, a 4-5 times increase from his UFC pay. Ibragimov makes his ACA debut on April 12 against undefeated heavyweight Danila Matsola (7-0), who will have a 12kg weight advantage. The article notes that while Ibragimov has been successful post-UFC, he has shown inconsistency against top-level opposition. The ACA 202 card also features former UFC fighter Tony Johnson, who has defeated Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov, facing Kirill Kornilov.
Khadis Ibragimov makes his Absolute Championship Akhmat debut on April 12 at ACA 202, stepping in against undefeated heavyweight Danila Matsola in a fight that carries significant physical and stylistic challenges for the Russian veteran.
Ibragimov, 31, enters under the ACA banner after a difficult UFC stint that ended in 2020 with an 0-4 record. Since leaving the promotion, the six-foot-three Orthodox striker from Russia has rebuilt steadily, going approximately 13-3-3 across 19 bouts contested under various rulesets. Fighting out of Sambo Piter, he carries a 78-inch reach and a notable striking output of 3.55 significant strikes landed per minute. His post-UFC run has reportedly pushed his per-fight earnings to between five and six million rubles, a four-to-five-times increase over what he earned in the UFC. His AgentMMA record stands at 8-4-0, and while his overall rebuild has been impressive, the summary notes recurring inconsistency when tested by elite opposition.
Matsola arrives unbeaten at 7-0 and holds a reported 12-kilogram weight advantage, making him a steep physical test for Ibragimov in his promotional debut.
Also featured on the ACA 202 card is heavyweight Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3-0 record and stands six-foot-one. Johnson has notable scalps on his resume, including wins over Derrick Lewis, Tim Sylvia, and Alexander Volkov. He lands two significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy and adds two takedowns per 15 minutes. Johnson faces Kirill Kornilov on the same card.
Why it matters
- Ibragimov's ACA debut is a measuring stick moment after a lengthy post-UFC rebuild across multiple rulesets.
- Matsola's 12-kilogram size edge tests whether Ibragimov's striking volume and reach can offset a significant physical disadvantage.
- The Johnson-Kornilov bout adds another former UFC heavyweight to the card, raising the overall competitive profile of ACA 202.
