Satoshi Ishii is set to face Oleg Popov under combat grappling rules on July 5 at the ACBJJ 21 tournament in Moscow.
Satoshi Ishii and Oleg Popov are set to collide under combat grappling rules on July 5 at the ACBJJ 21 tournament in Moscow, organizers have confirmed.
Ishii, 39, is a Japanese veteran carrying a professional MMA record of 15 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw. The orthodox-stance heavyweight stands five-foot-eleven and has built a career around blending his elite judo base with submission grappling, averaging 3.47 takedowns and 1.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his fights. His striking output sits at 1.41 significant strikes per minute, with a 36 percent accuracy rate, suggesting he is most dangerous once a fight moves to the mat. He competes as an independent.
Popov presents a contrasting profile. The Russian is six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and holds an impressive record of 22 wins against just 2 losses. At 33 years old, he lands 1.7 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 66 percent accuracy, one of the higher rates you will find at any level of competition. Under MMA rules his takedown rate of 17.31 per 15 minutes is exceptionally high, making him a relentless wrestling-based threat. He has recorded zero submission attempts per 15 minutes, pointing to a style focused on control and physical dominance rather than finishing on the ground with technique.
Why it matters
- Combat grappling removes striking, which narrows Popov's accuracy advantage and shifts the contest toward mat work and submission skill.
- Ishii's judo credentials give him credible submission offense against a wrestler who tends not to hunt for finishes on the ground.
- Popov's significant size edge — eight centimetres in height — and his extreme takedown volume could be the defining factor in dictating where the match is decided.
- A win for either man in a high-profile submission grappling setting adds cross-discipline credibility heading into the back half of 2026.
