Undefeated ACA bantamweight Grand Prix champion Mehdi Baidulayev (10-0) will move up to featherweight for his return bout on July 17, facing unbeaten Gadjimurad Aliyev (1-0) at ACA 205 in Almaty.
ACA bantamweight Grand Prix champion Mehdi Baidulayev is set to make his return to action on July 17, stepping up a weight class to face undefeated prospect Gadjimurad Aliyev at ACA 205 in Almaty.
Baidulayev enters the bout carrying a perfect 10-0 professional record and the distinction of being the reigning ACA bantamweight Grand Prix champion. The move to featherweight marks a notable shift for the unbeaten champion, who will be testing himself against a new weight class rather than defending his title at 135 pounds.
Aliyev is unbeaten through one professional bout, bringing a 1-0 record into what figures to be a significant step up in competition. Facing a double-digit unbeaten champion in only his second professional outing underscores the confidence ACA has placed in the young fighter.
Why it matters
- Baidulayev's move to featherweight raises questions about his divisional future and whether a permanent 145-pound campaign is on the horizon.
- A victory for Aliyev over an accomplished unbeaten champion would immediately establish him as a serious prospect in the featherweight division.
- The all-unbeaten matchup ensures at least one fighter's perfect record will remain intact when the event concludes in Almaty on July 17.
