The ACB JJ promotion has announced a grappling match between Yusuf Raisov and Arman Tsarukyan scheduled for 2026. The matchup will take place under grappling rules rather than MMA. An exact date for the bout has not yet been specified by the promotion. Both fighters are known for their wrestling and grappling credentials, making this a highly anticipated submission grappling contest.
ACB JJ has announced a grappling match between Yusuf Raisov and Arman Tsarukyan, set to take place sometime in 2026. The bout will be contested under grappling rules rather than MMA, with an exact date still to be confirmed by the promotion.
Tsarukyan brings elite-level credentials to the mat. The 29-year-old Russian, who competes out of American Top Team, holds a 23-3-0 professional MMA record and is currently ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, "Ahalkalakets" is an orthodox fighter whose wrestling has been a cornerstone of his rise in the division. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, a figure that underlines how central grappling is to his game. His striking output of 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy speaks to his well-rounded abilities, though it is his mat work that makes this grappling contest particularly intriguing.
Verified data for Raisov was not available in the AgentMMA database at the time of publication.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's takedown volume and wrestling pedigree make him a legitimate grappling threat outside the cage, not just within it.
- The matchup places a top-ranked UFC lightweight against a fighter described as equally credentialed on the mat, raising the competitive stakes considerably.
- A grappling-only format strips away striking, putting the focus squarely on the technical wrestling and submission skills both men are known for.
