Ali Isaev will face Pouya Rahmani in a submission grappling bout at ACB JJ 21 on July 5. The matchup is contested under combat grappling rules.
Unbeaten grapplers Ali Isaev and Pouya Rahmani are set to collide at ACB JJ 21 on July 5 in a submission grappling contest held under combat grappling rules.
Isaev enters the matchup with a perfect nine-and-zero record and stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach. The Russian competitor has shown a well-rounded game in mixed martial arts competition, posting a striking accuracy of just over 60 percent and a remarkable 28.5 takedowns per 15 minutes, underlining his dominant wrestling and grappling credentials. That takedown output makes him one of the more physically imposing control wrestlers in his division.
Rahmani, representing the UAE, brings his own undefeated mark of five wins and zero losses into the contest. Standing six-foot-two with a reach of 79 inches, he holds a slight length advantage over his opponent. His background reflects a grappling-focused approach, and his clean professional record signals he has yet to face defeat at any level of competition.
Why it matters
- Both fighters enter undefeated, meaning one will suffer the first loss of their career.
- The combat grappling format rewards both submission hunting and positional control, suiting Isaev's dominant takedown output.
- Rahmani's slight reach advantage of 79 inches could play a factor in the standup exchanges the ruleset permits.
- The bout adds a marquee undefeated-versus-undefeated storyline to the ACB JJ 21 card.
