Firdavs Zaripov earned a second-round submission victory over Kholmurod Nurmatov at ACA 203. The win extends Zaripov's winning streak to three fights and marks his successful ACA debut, improving his overall record to 13-5. Nurmatov drops to 12-11-1 and has now lost three consecutive fights, with two coming by stoppage. The submission finish demonstrated Zaripov's grappling prowess in his promotional debut. The bout was part of the ACA 203 event with live streaming available.
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.
Zaripov arrived at the event riding a two-fight winning streak, and the finish pushed that run to three consecutive victories while lifting his professional record to 13-5. The submission showcased the grappling ability that has become a hallmark of his game, and it could not have gone better as a statement performance on a new promotional stage.
Nurmatov, on the other hand, now finds himself in difficult territory. The loss drops him to 12-11-1 and extends his current skid to three straight defeats. Two of those setbacks have come by stoppage, underscoring a vulnerability that opponents have been able to exploit in recent outings.
Why it matters
- Zaripov's three-fight winning streak and clean submission finish establishes him as a credible threat in the ACA roster from day one.
- Nurmatov's third consecutive loss, with two stoppages among them, raises serious questions about where he goes from here in the promotion.
- The grappling-based finish signals that Zaripov could pose matchup problems for opponents who are susceptible on the ground.
