Absolute Championship Akhmat
MMA, kickboxing and BJJ promoter based in Russia
Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA ), formerly known as Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB ), is a Russian mixed martial arts , kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu organization and one of the leading promotions in Europe.[ 1] Grozny , Russia . ACA has also held events in other Russian cities, as well as in Australia , Austria , Azerbaijan , Belarus , Belgium , Brazil , Canada , China , England , France , Georgia , Germany , Italy , Kazakhstan , the Netherlands , Poland , Romania , Scotland , Slovakia , Tajikistan , Turkey , the United Arab Emirates and the United States .
History
Absolute Championship Berkut
ACB was founded by Mairbek Khasiev, a citizen of Chechnya . In 2009, he founded the Berkut Fight Club in Grozny which helped young fighters get the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
Several fighters who were successful in ACB have gone on to sign with more well known promotions such as the UFC. ACB had its own fight team, the Fight Club Berkut, which consisted of some of the promotion's fighters, such as Beslan Isaev, Magomed Bibulatov , Musa Khamanaev and Aslambek Saidov. ACB co-operated with other promotions in Europe by exchanging fighters, for example KSW and The Cage. ACB ran the majority of its shows live on a variety of TV networks (Match TV, Polsat Sport) throughout Europe. The promotion ran its shows live internationally on its Facebook page.
International Expansion
The 2017 campaign featured 27 events spanning across thirteen countries, including the United States, Austria, Poland, England, Tajikistan, Belarus, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Australia and Russia.
TECH-Krep FC purchase
On September 12, 2018, Mairbek Khasiev revealed that Absolute Championship Berkut had purchased TECH-Krep FC.[ 2]
WFCA acquisition and integration
On November 28, 2018, the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov announced that the Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) and the World Fighting Championship Akhmat (WFCA) would merge to form a single promotion.[ 3]
US Sanctions
On December 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions against ACA and Akhmat MMA due to their ownership by Kadyrov. Due to this, no American citizen or company can do business with them, meaning all American fighters could face fines or jail time if they fight for the organization.[ 4] Brett Cooper was the first fighter to pull out of his fight at ACA 116: Froes vs Balaev due to the sanctions.[ 5]
Roster
List of events
Current champions
Mixed martial arts
Rankings
The rankings for the ACA's fighters are both recorded and updated when information has been obtained from the ACA's website.[ 6]
Updated as of October 31, 2024.
ACA Rankings
Rank
Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
C
Evgeniy Goncharov
Albert Tumenov
1
2
3
4
5
6
Tony Johnson Jr.
7
8
Elias Silvério
9
10
Carlos Felipe
Mikhail Mokhnatkin
Rank
Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight
Flyweight
C
Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov
1
Ali Bagov
2
Azamat Kerefov
3
Magomed Bibulatov
4
5
6
7
8
Timur Valiev
Askar Askarov
9
10
Davi Ramos
Championship history
Mixed martial arts
Heavyweight Championship
over 93 kg (over 205 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defenses
1
def. Israfil Makhashev
ACB 9Grozny, Russia
Jun 22, 2014
594 days
2
ACB 29Warsaw, Poland
Feb 6, 2016
244 days
3
Denis Goltsov
ACB 50Saint Petersburg, Russia
Dec 18, 2016
244 days
4
ACB 67Grozny, Russia
Aug 19, 2017
742 days
1. def. Sergey Bilostenniy at ACB 90 on Nov 10, 2018
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
Evgeniy Goncharov and Tony Johnson Jr. fought to a no contest at ACA 96, leaving the belt vacated.[ 7]
5
Evgeniy Goncharov def. Tony Johnson Jr.
ACA 97Krasnodar, Russia
Aug 31, 2019
174 days
6
ACA 104Krasnodar, Russia
Feb 21, 2020
? days
Mukhamad Vakhaev vacated the title in March 2020 when he chose to test the free agency after the end of his contract with ACA.
7
Tony Johnson Jr. def. Daniel Omielańczuk
ACA 114Łódź, Poland
Nov 26, 2020
485 days
1. def. Dmitry Poberezhets at ACA 121 on Apr 23, 20212. def. Mukhumat Vakhaev at ACA 132 on Nov 19, 2021
8
ACA 138Grozny, Russia
Mar 26, 2022
154 days
9
ACA 143Krasnodar, Russia
Aug 27, 2022
202 days
10
Evgeniy Goncharov (2) ACA 154Krasnodar, Russia
Mar 17, 2023
595 days
1. def. Anton Vyazigin at ACA 170 on Feb 9, 2024
Light Heavyweight Championship
93 kg (205 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defenses
1
Gadzhimurad Antigulov def. Ruslan Khaskhanov
ACB 9Grozny, Russia
Jun 22, 2014
? days
1. def. Muslim Makhmudov at ACB 35 on May 6, 2016
Antigulov vacated the title when he signed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship .
2
Thiago Silva def. Jared Ferguson
ACB 51Irvine, California, U.S.
Jan 13, 2017
190 days
3
ACB 65Sheffield, England
Jul 22, 2017
287 days
4
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
ACB 86Moscow, Russia
May 5, 2018
207 days
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
5
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Karol Celinski
ACA 92Warsaw, Poland
Feb 16, 2019
675 days
1. def. Alexey Butorin at ACA 103 on Dec 14, 2019
Yagshimuradov vacated the title on December 22, 2020 when he signed for Bellator MMA . [ 8]
6
def. Evgeny Egemberdiev
ACA 126Sochi, Russia
Jul 16, 2021
1204 days
1. def. Grigor Matevosyan at ACA 137 on Mar 6, 2022
Middleweight Championship
84 kg (185 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defenses
1
Anatoly Tokov def. Arbi Aguev
ACB 38Rostov-on-Don, Russia
May 20, 2016
Tokov vacated the title on October 1, 2016 when he signed for M-1 Global due to a contract dispute. [ 9]
2
def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
ACB 77Moscow, Russia
Dec 23, 2017
? days
1. def. Piotr Strus at ACB 89 on Sept. 8, 2018
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
3
def. Brett Cooper
ACA 95Moscow, Russia
Apr 27, 2019
? days
1. def. Valery Myasnikov at ACA 102 on Nov 29, 2019
—
def. Nikola Dipchikov
ACA 121Minsk, Belarus
Apr 9, 2021
—
Abdurakhmanov vacated the title due to health reasons
4
promoted to undisputed champion ACA 121Minsk, Belarus
Apr 9, 2021
1302 days
1. def. Abdul-Rakhman Dzhanaev at ACA 135 on Jan 28, 2022 2. def. Artem Frolov at ACA 143 on Aug 27, 2022 3. def. Salamu Abdurakhmanov at ACA 161 on Aug 11, 2023 4. def. Ibragim Magomedov at ACA 171 on Feb 25, 2024
Welterweight Championship
77 kg (170 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defenses
1
def. Ustarmagomed Gadzhidaudov ACB 22Saint Petersburg, Russia
Sep 12, 2015
? days
1. def. Michail Tsarev at ACB 35 on May 6, 2016
Duraev was stripped of the title due to him missing weight and his eventual move up to Middleweight.
2
Brett Cooper def. Aslambek Saidov
ACB 50Saint Petersburg, Russia
Dec 18, 2016
244 days
3
ACB 67Grozny, Russia
Aug 19, 2017
? days
Berkhamov was stripped of the title after his refusal to accept 3 title defense match ups.
4
Albert Tumenov def. Ciro Rodrigues
ACB 89Krasnodar, Russia
Sep 8, 2018
81 days
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
5
Albert Tumenov def. Murad Abdulaev
ACA 95Moscow, Russia
Apr 27, 2019
216 days
1. def. Beslan Ushukov at ACA 102 on Nov 29, 2019
Tumenov vacated the title in November 2019 when he chose to test the free agency after the end of his contract with ACA.
6
def. Ali Bagov
ACA 110Moscow, Russia
Sep 5, 2020
174 days
7
ACA 118Moscow, Russia
Feb 26, 2021
658 days
8
ACA 149Moscow, Russia
Dec 16, 2022
217 days
9
ACA 160Moscow, Russia
Jul 21, 2023
156 days
10
Albert Tumenov (2)
ACA 168Moscow, Russia
December 24, 2023
313 days
Lightweight Championship
70 kg (155 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defenses
1
Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov def. Ali Bagov
ACB 9Grozny, Russia
Jun 22, 2014
1539 days
1. def. Eduard Vartanyan at ACB 32 on Mar 26, 2016 2. def. Ali Bagov at ACB 48 on Oct 22, 2016 3. def. interim champion Eduard Vartanyan at ACB 77 on Dec 23, 2017
—
Eduard Vartanyan def. Andrey Koshkin for interim title
ACB 71Moscow, Russia
Sep 30, 2017
—
2
Ali Bagov
ACB 89Krasnodar, Russia
Sep 8, 2018
81 days
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
3
Ali Bagov def. Khuseyn Khaliev
ACA 99Moscow, Russia
Sep 27, 2019
? days
Title vacated after Bagov moved up to welterweight.
4
Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov (2) def. Alexander Sarnavskiy
ACA 111Moscow, Russia
Sep 19, 2020
1504 days
1. def. Hacran Dias at ACA 131 on Nov 5, 2021 2. def. interim champion Mukhamed Kokov at ACA 164 on Oct 4, 2023
—
def. Hacran Dias for interim title
ACA 154Krasnodar, Russia
Mar 17, 2023
—
Featherweight Championship
66 kg (145 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defenses
1
Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Sheikh-Magomed Arapkhanov
ACB 31Grozny, Russia
Mar 29, 2016
137 days
1. def. Valdines Silva at ACB 45 on September 17, 2016
Magomedsharipov vacated the title on May 4, 2017 when he signed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship .
2
def. Yusuf Raisov
ACB 50Saint Petersburg, Russia
Dec 18, 2016
503 days
1. def. Adlan Bataev at ACB 61 on May 20, 2017
—
def. Alexander Peduson
ACB 77Moscow, Russia
Dec 23, 2017
—
3
ACB 86Moscow, Russia
May 5, 2018
207 days
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
4
def. Marat Balaev
ACA 93Saint Petersburg, Russia
Mar 16, 2019
202 days
5
ACA 100Grozny, Russia
Oct 4, 2019
539 days
Froes was stripped of the title on March 26, 2021 after failing to make weight for his title defense against Magomedrasul Khasbulaev at ACA 120 .
6
Magomedrasul Khasbulaev def. Felipe Froes
ACA 120Saint Petersburg, Russia
Mar 26, 2021
? days
1. def. Ramazan Kishev at ACA 131 on Nov 5, 2021
—
def. Felipe Froes
AC1 141Sochi, Russia
Jul 22, 2022
—
Khasbulaev was stripped of the title after he pulled out of three bouts against Suleymanov. Suleymanov was subsequently promoted to undisputed champion.
7
def. Felipe Froes
ACA 141Sochi, Russia
Jul 22, 2022
364 days
8
ACA 160Moscow, Russia
Jul 21, 2023
469 days
1. def. Alexey Polpudnikov at ACA 171 on Feb 25, 2024
Bantamweight Championship
61 kg (135 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defense
1
Magomed Magomedov def. Petr Yan
ACB 32Moscow, Russia
Mar 26, 2016
385 days
1. def. Oleg Borisov at ACB 50 on Dec 18, 2016
2
Petr Yan
ACB 57Moscow, Russia
Apr 15, 2017
290 days
1. def. Matheus Mattos at ACB 71 on Sep 30, 2017
Yan vacated the title on January 30, 2018 when he signed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship .
3
def. Oleg Borisov
ACB 83Baku, Azerbaijan
Mar 24, 2018
249 days
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
4
def. Abdul-Rakhman Dudaev
ACA 93Saint Petersburg, Russia
Mar 16, 2019
? days
1. def. Francisco Maciel at ACA 103 on Dec 14, 2019
Kerimov vacated the title in December 2019 when he chose to test the free agency after the end of his contract with ACA.
5
def. Shamil Shakhbulatov
ACA 105Almaty, Kazakhstan
Mar 6, 2020
385 days
1. def. Abdul-Rakhman Dudaev at ACA 112 on Oct 4, 2020
6
Magomed Bibulatov
ACA 120Saint Petersburg, Russia
Mar 26, 2021
365 days
7
ACA 138Grozny, Russia
Mar 26, 2022
755 days
1. def. Rustam Kerimov at ACA 154 on Mar 17, 2023
8
ACA 174Saint Petersburg, Russia
April 19, 2024
196 days
Flyweight Championship
57 kg (125 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Reign
Defense
1
Askar Askarov def. José Maria Tomé
ACB 48Moscow, Russia
Oct 22, 2016
767 days
1. def. Anthony Leone at ACB 58 on Apr 22, 2017 2. def. Rasul Albaskhanov at ACB 86 on May 5, 2018
ACB and WFCA merged on November 28, 2018 to become ACA.
2
def. Josiel Silva
ACA 95Moscow, Russia
Apr 27, 2019
? days
1. def. Azam Gaforov at ACA 99 on Sep 27, 2019
Evloev vacated the title in December 2019 for health reasons.
3
Azamat Kerefov def. Mansur Khatuev
ACA 104Krasnodar, Russia
Feb 21, 2020
597 days
1. def. Kurban Gadzhiev at ACA 113 on Nov 6, 2020 2. def. Rasul Albaskhanov at ACB 127 on Aug 28, 2021
Kerefov vacated the title on October 10, 2021 when he chose to test the free agency.
4
def. Aren Akopyan
ACA 136Moscow, Russia
Feb 26, 2022
364 days
5
ACA 152Grozny, Russia
Feb 25, 2023
615 days
Kickboxing
Heavyweight Championship
120 kg (265 lb)
Middleweight Championship
84 kg (185 lb)
Welterweight Championship
77 kg (170 lb)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Defenses
Current
Perviz Abdullayev def. Islam Baibatyrov
ACB KB 15 Moscow , Russia April 20, 2018
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
GI Heavyweight Championship
120 kg (265 lb)
GI Light Heavyweight Championship
95 kg (209 lb)
GI Middleweight Championship
85 kg (187 lb)
GI Welterweight Championship
75 kg (165 lb)
GI Lightweight Championship
65 kg (143 lbs)
GI Featherweight Championship
60 kg (132 lbs)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Defenses
Current
João Miyao def. Samir Chantre
ACB JJ 12 Almaty , Kazakhstan April 14, 2018
1. def. Ary Farias at ACB JJ 14 on June 30, 2018 in Moscow , Russia
Grand Prix champions
Notable fighters
Mixed martial arts
Kickboxing
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
See also
Notes
References
External links
Asia
Australia
Current
XFC (AUS)
Hex Fight Series
Eternal MMA Defunct
Canada
Europe
Middle East
Nigeria
South Africa
South America
United Kingdom
United States
Current champions for active organizations Legacy champions for defunct organizations Miscellaneous
Governing bodies Asian promotions European promotions North American promotions Oceania promotions Defunct organizations
