Zumso Zuraev submitted Cledson Abreu in the first round at ACA 203, extending his unbeaten streak to six consecutive victories and improving his record to 10-0-1 NC, with a perfect 5-0 mark in ACA. Zuraev has now finished his last four opponents, including one knockout and three submissions, prompting comparisons to Jailton Almeida. The dominant performance showcases Zuraev as a rising heavyweight prospect. Abreu falls to 17-9-2 NC and has now lost three fights in a row. Zuraev's aggressive finishing ability makes him one to watch in the heavyweight division.
Zumso Zuraev picked up another impressive finish at ACA 203 on May 8, submitting Cledson Abreu in the first round to push his unbeaten run to six straight victories.
Zuraev improved to 10-0-1 NC with the result, maintaining a perfect 5-0 record inside the ACA promotion. The finish was his fourth consecutive stoppage, a sequence that includes one knockout and three submissions. That run of dominant performances has drawn comparisons to UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida, who sits ranked fifth in the division at 22-5-0. Almeida, the 35-year-old Brazilian known as Malhadinho, has built his reputation on a similarly relentless grappling-based approach, averaging 5.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes in his career.
Abreu, meanwhile, drops to 17-9-2 NC following the loss, his third consecutive defeat. The Brazilian veteran has now been stopped in each of his recent outings, raising questions about where he goes from here at heavyweight.
Why it matters
- Zuraev's six-fight unbeaten streak and four straight finishes establish him as a legitimate rising force in the heavyweight division.
- A perfect 5-0 ACA record with finishes in every recent outing suggests he is outgrowing the regional circuit.
- The comparison to Almeida, a top-five UFC heavyweight, signals that scouts and promotional teams will be paying close attention to Zuraev's next steps.
- Abreu's three-fight losing skid may force a reassessment of his path forward at the highest levels of the division.
