Oleg Popov earned a unanimous decision victory over Satoshi Ishii under combat grappling rules at the ACBJJ 21 tournament.
Oleg Popov secured a unanimous decision win over Satoshi Ishii under combat grappling rules at ACBJJ 21 on July 5, 2026, adding another notable scalp to what has become one of the more impressive resumes in submission grappling competition.
Popov, 33, arrives at this result carrying a 22-2-0 record and standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. The Russian competitor has built his reputation through relentless grappling pressure, evidenced by a remarkable 17.31 takedowns per 15 minutes. His 66 percent striking accuracy further underlines the kind of precision that makes him difficult to neutralize once he establishes control.
Ishii, the 39-year-old Japanese veteran and former Olympic judo gold medalist, came in at 15-8-1. Standing five-foot-eleven, he has historically been a threat in the clinch and on the mat, averaging 3.47 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.6 submission attempts in the same span. Despite that offensive grappling output, he was unable to prevent Popov from controlling enough of the match to take all three judges' scorecards.
Why it matters
- Popov's 22-2-0 record and dominant takedown rate cement him as a serious force in combat grappling circuits
- Ishii, despite his decorated combat sports pedigree, drops to 15-8-1 and faces questions about where he competes next at 39
- The matchup highlighted contrasting styles, with Popov's volume and precision ultimately outlasting Ishii's experience and submission threat
