Absolute Championship Akhmat returns to Kazan with a huge event.
Twelve interesting fights will take place under the arches of TatNeft Arena at ACA 157 on May 19. In the main event, the Russian fighter, No. 3-ranked Artem Frolov (16-5) will fight for reaching the semifinals of the ACA middleweight grand prix against compatriot Shamil Abdulaev (13-1), a dangerous debutant from the “forge of champions” of Dagestan who immediately breaks into the ACA grand prix bracket.
ACA vice president Aslanbek Badaev: “This is a fight between two top Russian middleweights. Shamil is a top talent from the past, who has only had three fights in the last five years, and his best fights and rivals are in the past, in the WFCA league. After the championship fight with Salamu Abdurakhmanov, he left the promotion and returns five years later. He has a distinguished amateur career, he is a multiple champion of Russia, Europe and the world in MMA. He has a 13-1 pro MMA career, and he was only defeated by Salamu Abdurakhmanov.
“Given his name and his high-level skills, it was decided to immediately put him in the grand prix and match him against the iron top, the knockout artist, the last challenger for the championship belt, Artem Frolov. Will Artem, who has been competing with very high opposition lately, be able to land his heavy shot in the fight on May 19? If not, then it will be a very difficult fight.
“Another thing to point out: Salamu Abdurakhmanov, Shamil’s only offender in the pro career, participates in the same grand prix. Naturally, he wants to get even for the defeat. On the other hand, Magomedrasul Hasanov, whom Frolov would hardly have reached, and for Frolov, there is a great motivation not only to win the grand prix, but also to capture his belt.”
The complete ACA 157 lineup includes:
- Artem Frolov vs. Shamil Abdulaev – Middleweight grand prix quarterfinal bout
- Alimardan Abdykaarov vs. Daniel Oliveira
- Evgeny Erokhin vs. Artur Astakhov
- Igor Zhirkov vs. Mukhitddin Kholov
- Denis Smoldarev vs. Matunga Dijkasa
- Vladislav Yankovskiy vs. Sergey Kalinin
- Osimkhon Rakhmonov vs. Jose Alexandre
- Sergey Yakovlev vs. Otabek Tokhirov
- Marcos Rordrigues vs. Nizambek Abdrashitov
- Rim Khaziakhmetov vs. Andrey Kurbatov
- Renat Ondar vs. Rodrigo Praia
- Tamerlan Kulaev vs. Mohsen Zamani
