Satoshi Ishii and Oleg Popov will clash under combat grappling rules at ACBJJ 21 in Moscow on July 5.
Satoshi Ishii and Oleg Popov are booked to meet under combat grappling rules at ACBJJ 21 in Moscow on July 5, 2026, with the bout now officially confirmed.
Ishii, the 39-year-old Japanese veteran and 2008 Olympic judo gold medalist, carries a professional MMA record of 15-8-1. The orthodox striker standing 180 cm tall has averaged 3.47 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, reflecting the wrestling and judo base that has defined his fighting style. His submission attempts sit at 1.6 per 15 minutes, signaling that once he secures a hold, he looks to finish on the mat.
Popov enters the contest with considerably more momentum. The 33-year-old Russian holds a 22-2-0 record and stands 188 cm with a 191 cm reach. His numbers paint the picture of a relentless grappler — he averages an extraordinary 17.31 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that underlines just how suffocating his ground-and-pound game can be. He also posts a striking accuracy of 66.07 percent, suggesting his offense is precise rather than high-volume.
Why it matters
- Ishii's judo credentials give him elite defensive grappling to counter Popov's takedown volume, setting up a compelling clash of grappling styles.
- Popov's 17-plus takedowns per 15 minutes under MMA rules translates directly into a potential combat grappling advantage, where controlling and submitting an opponent is the primary objective.
- At 39, Ishii faces a six-year-younger opponent in his physical prime, making the contest a meaningful test of experience against athleticism.
- The Moscow setting adds local crowd support for Popov, while Ishii competes as an internationally recognized name on the card.
