The final of the first Absolute Championship Akhmat grand prix will take place on June 16 in Sochi.
The most anticipated MMA confrontation in Russia will take place on Friday at ACA 159. The main event of the evening will serve the long-awaited final of the prestigious ACA lightweight grand prix, when Russian fighter Eduard Vartanyan (24-4) faces Kazakhstani Artem Reznikov (24-6).
Back in early 2022, the ACA announced the start of the grand prix in the most competitive lightweight division with a prize fund of $1 million. In the spring, eight participants were named: Russians Yusuf Raisov, Vartanyan, Ali Bagov, Rashid Magomedov, Kazakhstani fighter Reznikov, South African Alain Ilunga and Brazilian Hacran Dias.
The grand prix started in March 2022 in Grozny. Dias, who fought with Raisov, was the first to drop out of the race. Raisov reached the semifinals after the quarterfinals in March in Grozny, where he defeated Dias. The fight went to the judges’ decision. All five judges gave the victory to Raisov.
Vartanyan came second in the semifinals of the ACA grand prix in May 2022 at the tournament in Moscow. The Russian defeated South African Ilunga. The fight ended in the third round via guillotine choke.
The third semifinalist becam Reznikov, who in July defeated Brazilian Davi Ramos by unanimous decision and reached the semifinals of the grand prix.
The next quarterfinal bout of the ACA lightweight grand prix between Russians Bagov and Magomedov ended with the disqualification of the fighters. Before the fifth round, ACA founder Mairbek Khasiev entered the cage. He disqualified the fighters for passive actions during the fight. After that, the promotion decided not to hold a new quarterfinal and instead brought Russian Andrei Koshkin to the grand prix, but he did not go further, suffering a submission loss to Reznikov in December 2022
The long-awaited final of the lightweight grand prix between Reznikov and Vartanyan will take place on June 16. The strongest lightweight will be determined soon. Reznikov has 24 victories and six defeats. Vartanyan, who in the past was ACB champion, has 24 victories and four defeats.
