ACA bantamweight Grand Prix champion Mehdi Baidulaev, who holds a 10-0 record in ACA, returns to action on July 17 at ACA 205 in Almaty. He will drop to featherweight to face undefeated Gadjimurad Aliev, who is 1-0 in ACA.
ACA bantamweight Grand Prix champion Mehdi Baidulaev is set to make his return on July 17 at ACA 205 in Almaty, with a notable twist: he will drop down a division to featherweight for the bout.
Standing across from him will be undefeated prospect Gadjimurad Aliev, who carries a perfect record into the contest and has gone one-and-zero since joining the ACA roster.
Baidulaev enters the fight as one of the most decorated fighters on the ACA roster, having gone an unblemished ten-and-zero inside the promotion. That flawless run through ACA competition culminated in Grand Prix gold at bantamweight, making his decision to compete at featherweight a striking development heading into the summer card.
Aliev, meanwhile, brings an unbeaten record and the momentum of a winning ACA debut. Though his organizational experience is limited to a single appearance, he arrives with his zero intact and something to prove against a proven champion.
Why it matters
- Baidulaev risks his unbeaten ACA record against a fighter who has yet to lose at any level
- The weight class switch from bantamweight to featherweight adds an extra layer of intrigue to Baidulaev's return
- A win for Aliev would instantly elevate his standing within the ACA featherweight division
- The matchup could shape the featherweight landscape at ACA heading into the second half of 2026
