Ali Isaev will face Pouya Rahmani in a submission grappling bout at ACBJJ 21 on July 5. The matchup will be contested under combat grappling rules.
Ali Isaev and Pouya Rahmani are set to collide in a submission grappling contest at ACBJJ 21 on July 5, with the bout scheduled under combat grappling rules.
Isaev enters the matchup as one of the more physically imposing grapplers in the field. The Russian stands six-foot-three, or 191 cm, with a 78-inch reach and carries a perfect 9-0-0 record into the contest. His mixed martial arts numbers hint at a relentless, pressure-based style — he averages 28.5 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a 60.87 percent accuracy rate, posting 5.04 significant strikes per minute. Those figures suggest a competitor who combines wrestling volume with efficient offensive output.
Rahmani, representing the UAE, brings an unblemished 5-0-0 record of his own into the matchup. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-two, or 188 cm, and carries a 79-inch reach — giving him a one-inch reach advantage over Isaev despite being an inch shorter in height. That length could be a meaningful factor under combat grappling rules, where strikes to a grounded opponent are permitted alongside submission attempts.
Why it matters
- Both fighters enter undefeated, meaning one perfect record will be on the line at ACBJJ 21.
- The combat grappling format blends submission wrestling with limited striking, rewarding both Rahmani's reach and Isaev's high-volume wrestling pressure.
- A win for either man would represent a significant statement in the submission grappling circuit heading into the second half of 2026.
