The ACB JJ promotion has announced a grappling match between Yusuf Raissov and Arman Tsarukyan scheduled for 2026. While the matchup has been officially confirmed, the promotion has not yet specified an exact date for the contest. The announcement indicates both fighters have agreed to compete in a grappling ruleset rather than MMA. Further details about the event and specific timing are expected to be released later.
ACB JJ has officially announced a grappling match between Yusuf Raissov and Arman Tsarukyan, set to take place sometime in 2026. The promotion confirmed the contest but has not yet released a specific date. Both fighters have agreed to compete under a grappling ruleset rather than in a standard MMA bout.
Arman Tsarukyan, known as "Ahalkalakets," enters the match as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, sitting just outside the championship picture at 29 years old. The Russian-born fighter out of American Top Team carries a professional MMA record of 23-3 and has built a reputation as a well-rounded threat. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and adds a consistent wrestling dimension with 3.26 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. Transitioning to a pure grappling format removes his striking game entirely, placing greater emphasis on that wrestling and ground work.
Raissov's verified statistics were not included in the announcement data, but his inclusion in an ACB JJ main event signals the promotion views the matchup as a marquee contest.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan steps outside MMA competition entirely, testing his submission and positional grappling against a specialist ruleset
- The result could offer insight into the lightweight contender's ground game ahead of any future UFC title pursuit
- ACB JJ gains significant attention by booking one of the sport's top-ranked lightweights for the 2026 card
