Promotion ACB JJ has announced a grappling match between Yusuf Raisov and Arman Tsarukyan scheduled for 2026. The exact date for this bout has not yet been specified by the promotion. Both fighters are known competitors in the combat sports scene. Further details about the matchup are expected to be revealed at a later time.
ACB JJ has officially announced a grappling match between Yusuf Raisov and Arman Tsarukyan, with the bout set to take place at some point in 2026. The promotion has not yet revealed a specific date for the contest.
Arman Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," enters the match as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a professional MMA record of 23-3-0. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and competes out of an orthodox stance. Inside the cage he has shown a well-rounded skill set, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also posing a consistent wrestling threat at 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. Stepping onto the grappling mat represents a different test, one that will put his ground game to work without the striking element that typically complements it.
Details on Yusuf Raisov were not available in the promotion's announcement, and further information about his background is expected to be disclosed alongside additional matchup details at a later date.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, making any high-profile appearance outside the UFC a notable event for the division's landscape.
- A pure grappling format strips away Tsarukyan's striking volume and forces the contest onto the mat, testing a dimension of his game that MMA competition has not fully isolated.
- ACB JJ has not confirmed a date, meaning the timeline and full context of the event remain to be established.
