Former UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov has officially signed with ACB Jiu-Jitsu promotion. The Dagestani fighter is scheduled to make his promotional debut on July 6. Details about his opponent and specific event location were not disclosed in the announcement. Tukhugov previously competed in the UFC featherweight division before departing the organization. This move marks his transition into competitive jiu-jitsu competition under the ACB banner.
Zubaira Tukhugov has made his next competitive move official, signing with ACB Jiu-Jitsu and scheduling his promotional debut for July 6. No opponent or event location was disclosed in the announcement.
Tukhugov, known by the nickname "Warrior," is a 35-year-old Russian featherweight who spent a significant portion of his career competing in the UFC. He carries a professional MMA record of 20-6-1 and stands five-foot-eight with a 68-inch reach. Fighting out of an orthodox stance and training with Tiger Muay Thai, he averaged 3.17 significant strikes landed per minute during his UFC tenure and showed a credible grappling threat with 2.13 takedowns per 15 minutes. His submission attempt rate in MMA competition was essentially zero, making the pivot to dedicated jiu-jitsu competition an interesting development for a fighter whose ground game has been oriented around wrestling rather than submission offense.
Why it matters
- Tukhugov's signing adds a recognizable former UFC name to the ACB Jiu-Jitsu roster, raising the promotion's profile.
- The move signals a full transition away from MMA competition, at least for the near term, for the veteran Dagestani fighter.
- His wrestling-heavy background will be tested against opponents whose games are built around submission chains, creating a compelling stylistic question for his July 6 debut.
