Zubaira Tukhugov, Maurbek Taisumov headline ACBJJ 21 grappling card July 5

ACBJJ 21 will bring two high-profile grappling bouts to Moscow on July 5, with former UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov and longtime UFC lightweight Maurbek Taisumov each competing in separate 80-kilogram matches on the card.

Tukhugov, a veteran of the featherweight division known for his work out of Dagestan, will square off against Elves Brener. The 28-year-old Brazilian carries a 16-6 professional record and trains out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima. Standing five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach, Brener averages nearly four significant strikes per minute in MMA competition, though his grappling credentials will be put to the test in a submission-only or points format.

Taisumov, one of the most feared strikers the UFC lightweight division has seen in recent years, will face Gleison Tibau, a Brazilian veteran with extensive UFC experience of his own. The two meet at the same 80-kilogram weight limit.

The card carries considerable star power beyond those two matchups. Zabit Magomedsharipov, Rinat Fakhretdinov, Raul Rosas Jr., Armen Petrosyan, Brendan Allen, and Yusuf Raisov are all listed on the bill. Allen, the ranked UFC middleweight sitting fifth in his division at 26-7, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a natural fit for a grappling showcase. Petrosyan, the 35-year-old Armenian known as Superman with a 9-5 record and a striking-heavy style averaging 5.84 significant strikes per minute in MMA, rounds out a diverse lineup of combat sports talent.

Why it matters

• Tukhugov and Taisumov represent a strong regional draw for the Moscow crowd, adding name recognition to the grappling format
• Allen's divisional ranking at middleweight makes his appearance a notable crossover moment between UFC competition and the grappling circuit
• The stacked card signals ACBJJ's continued push to blend elite MMA names with pure grappling competition