Movsar Evloev has signed a contract with the ACB JJ promotion. The deal marks a new chapter for the fighter outside of the UFC's octagon.
Movsar Evloev has signed a contract with ACB JJ, the grappling promotion, marking a new direction for the undefeated featherweight outside of his MMA career in the UFC's octagon.
Evloev, 32, arrives at ACB JJ as one of the most compelling signings the promotion could hope for. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a perfect 20-0-0 professional MMA record and currently sits ranked first in the UFC's featherweight division. At five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he is a compact and technically well-rounded competitor. His MMA numbers reflect a fighter who pressures opponents on multiple fronts, averaging 3.91 significant strikes landed per minute at 47 percent accuracy, while also threatening consistently on the mat with 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes. Submission attempts have been a smaller part of his game statistically, though the move to a dedicated jiu-jitsu promotion suggests he is eager to develop and showcase that dimension of his skill set.
Why it matters
- Evloev is the UFC's number-one ranked featherweight, making his crossover into grappling competition a high-profile addition for ACB JJ.
- The signing signals growing interest among elite MMA fighters in competing on the submission grappling circuit alongside their cage careers.
- His takedown-heavy, pressure-oriented style translates naturally to grappling formats, where his wrestling base will be tested against pure jiu-jitsu specialists.
- How Evloev performs in this setting could raise or complicate his profile ahead of any future featherweight title conversation in the UFC.
