Ari Farias defeated Yusup Saadulaev by unanimous decision under grappling rules at the ACBJJ 21 tournament.
Brazilian grappler Ari Farias picked up a unanimous decision victory over Russia's Yusup Saadulaev at the ACBJJ 21 tournament on July 5, 2026, competing under grappling rules.
Saadulaev, known by the nickname "Maestro," carries a mixed martial arts record of 16 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw across his career. The 41-year-old Russian, who trains out of Fight Club Krepost, stands 168 centimeters tall and has built a reputation as a dangerous grappling threat. His MMA numbers reflect a takedown rate of 5.73 per 15 minutes, underlining the wrestling-heavy approach he brings into competition. Despite those credentials on the ground, he was unable to secure the better of the exchanges against Farias across the judges' scorecards.
Why it matters
- The result marks a notable submission-rules scalp for Farias, who outpointed a fighter with a strong grappling pedigree in Saadulaev.
- Saadulaev's high takedown volume made him a credible threat in this format, giving the win added weight for Farias.
- The ACBJJ circuit continues to draw recognizable MMA names into pure grappling competition, raising the profile of individual matchups.
No ranking or championship implications were attached to the bout given its grappling-rules format, but the performance adds to Farias's competitive résumé in submission wrestling. Saadulaev, at 41, remains one of the more experienced competitors to cross over into the grappling circuit from a professional MMA background.
