Firdavs Zaripov defeated Kholmurod Nurmatov by submission in the second round at ACA 203. The win marks Zaripov's third consecutive victory and his debut in ACA, improving his record to 13-5. Nurmatov falls to 12-11-1 and has now lost three fights in a row, with two of those defeats coming by stoppage. This was Nurmatov's first loss by submission in his career. The event was broadcast live on ACA's pay-per-view platform.
Firdavs Zaripov made an immediate impression on his Absolute Championship Akhmat debut, submitting Kholmurod Nurmatov in the second round at ACA 203 on May 8, 2026.
The finish extended Zaripov's winning streak to three consecutive victories and pushed his professional record to 13 wins and 5 losses. The submission was a statement performance on a new stage, with Zaripov announcing himself to the ACA roster in emphatic fashion.
For Nurmatov, the defeat was a difficult one to absorb. He now sits at 12 wins, 11 losses, and one draw, and has dropped three fights in a row, with two of those setbacks coming by stoppage. Perhaps most notably, the second-round submission marked the first time in his professional career that Nurmatov has been finished on the ground in that manner, representing a new kind of loss for a fighter with considerable experience.
Why it matters
- Zaripov enters the ACA fold with momentum, riding a three-fight winning streak and now carrying 13 professional victories
- The submission finish signals Zaripov is not merely a points fighter, adding a finishing result to his debut performance
- Nurmatov's third straight loss, and first career submission defeat, raises questions about where he fits in ACA's competitive landscape at this stage of his career
The event was broadcast live on ACA's pay-per-view platform.
