ACBJJ 16 Breakdown: Rules, Results, and Highlights From Doha

Eskiev’s performance throughout the no gi tournament was particularly noteworthy because of how he adapted his MMA-honed grappling to the ACBJJ ruleset. His wrestling base gave him an immediate advantage in the standup portions of every round — especially during that critical first minute when guard pulling is penalized. Where pure BJJ competitors sometimes struggled with the transition from their usual gameplan, Eskiev looked completely at home. His kimura finish over Kushkush in the quarters showed he’s not just a positional grinder either; the man has legitimate submission chops.

On the other side of the bracket, Yusup Saadulaev submitted Risto Dimitrov with an arm-triangle choke in the quarters, then outpointed Ramazan Gitinov in the semis. The third-place match ended in bizarre fashion when Diego Silva was disqualified for throwing a kick at Gitinov — a reminder that ACBJJ events can get heated in a hurry.

The final was a close, tactical battle between Eskiev and Saadulaev. Both men had shown submission ability earlier in the tournament, but neither could find the finish. Eskiev took the judge’s decision and the tournament title, adding another line to his already impressive combat sports resume.

No Gi Super Cup Results:

• Quarter-Finals: Gitinov dec. Akimzhan, Saadulaev sub. Dimitrov (arm-triangle choke), Eskiev sub. Kushkush (kimura), Diego Silva dec. Al Farsi
• Semi-Finals: Saadulaev dec. Gitinov, Eskiev dec. Diego Silva
• Third Place: Diego Silva def. Gitinov (DQ — kick)
• Final: Lom Ali Eskiev dec. Yusup Saadulaev

Championship Superfights: Belts, Upsets, and a Disqualification

The four superfights at the top of the card each told a different story.

Thalison Soares vs. Andrew Soares — Under 60kg Title: The first title fight was a chess match between two technical lightweights. Neither man could find a submission, and the pace stayed measured throughout. Thalison Soares took the judge’s decision and became the first ACBJJ under 60kg champion.

Dante Leon vs. Marcio Andre — Under 75kg Title: This was a real statement win for Dante Leon. Marcio Andre came in as the defending champion and one of the most dangerous lightweights in professional grappling. Leon outscored him 1-0 on points in a tight, technical battle that showcased his elite passing game. He left Doha with the belt.

Chris Weidman vs. Hector Lombard — MMA Crossover Superfight: This was the match everyone was talking about — two former UFC fighters going at it on the grappling mats. Weidman, the former UFC middleweight champion, and Lombard, one of the most physically imposing fighters in MMA history, engaged in a grinding battle that escalated beyond the ruleset. Lombard got disqualified for throwing punches, giving Weidman the win in the most chaotic finish of the night. It was pure MMA energy on a grappling card, and the crowd loved every second of it.

The Weidman-Lombard situation was actually a perfect encapsulation of what makes ACBJJ events different from traditional grappling shows. Both men came from MMA backgrounds where physical intensity is the norm, and the competitive heat between them boiled over. Weidman, who had been working to establish top position and grind Lombard down, found himself in a scramble where Lombard reverted to his fighting instincts. The referee stepped in immediately, and the DQ was awarded. It was messy, it was controversial, and it was absolutely entertaining.

Roberto Jimenez vs. Bruno Lima — Under 85kg Title: The main event delivered. Roberto Jimenez, one of the most exciting grapplers in the sport, battled Bruno Lima in a competitive fight that went the distance. Jimenez took the decision 2-1 on points and was crowned the new ACBJJ under 85kg champion. It was a fitting end to a card that had everything.

Why ACBJJ Keeps Getting Bigger

ACBJJ 16 was a showcase event, but it was far from a one-off. The promotion has continued building at a rapid pace, running events through ACBJJ 20 in Moscow this past December — a 27-match card where UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan submitted Mehdi Baydulaev with a rear-naked choke to win the inaugural All-Stars Championship. That card also featured UFC heavyweight Alexander Volkov, former Bellator champion Gleison Tibau, and UFC flyweight Amir Albazi all competing on the same night as elite BJJ athletes.

The MMA-to-grappling pipeline that ACBJJ has built is unlike anything else in the sport. Chris Weidman at ACBJJ 16 was just the beginning — now the promotion is pulling active UFC contenders and established MMA veterans alongside world-class jiu-jitsu competitors, creating matchups that simply don’t exist anywhere else.

And it’s about to get even more interesting. In February 2026, Zabit Magomedsharipov signed with ACBJJ for his first professional competition in over six years. The former UFC featherweight contender — who went 6-0 in the octagon with three finishes before stepping away — will make his grappling debut at an upcoming ACBJJ event. For a guy whose creative scrambles and unorthodox movement made him one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history, a submission-focused grappling format might be the perfect stage for his return.

You can watch the entire ACBJJ 16 event — every tournament match and superfight — for free on the official ACBJJ YouTube channel. Whether you’re there for the technical grappling, the MMA crossovers, or you just want to see Hector Lombard get disqualified for punching someone at a BJJ event, it’s well worth your time.

ACBJJ 16 landed in Doha, Qatar on June 19, 2025, and the Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reminded everyone why it’s become one of the most unpredictable grappling promotions on the planet. With a stacked card featuring gi and no gi tournaments, four championship superfights, and a wild MMA crossover moment that nobody saw coming, this event delivered from start to finish.

ACBJJ: Not Your Average Grappling Promotion

For anyone unfamiliar, ACBJJ (Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) is a Russian-backed grappling organization that’s been steadily building momentum since its inception. What separates ACBJJ from promotions like ADCC or the IBJJF circuit is its ruleset — a hybrid system designed to reward action and punish stalling.

The rules borrow from both traditional BJJ scoring and MMA judging. Matches are fought in rounds — three five-minute rounds for regular bouts, five five-minute rounds for championship fights, with one minute of rest between each. Scoring uses a 10-9 must system similar to MMA, where the round winner gets 10 points and the loser gets 9 or fewer. If someone dominates a round with a seven-point advantage or more, judges can score it 10-8.

Here’s where it gets interesting: guard pulling is penalized during the first minute of every round with negative points. That single rule changes everything about how matches play out. Competitors have to engage on the feet, which means wrestling and takedown skills matter way more than in standard BJJ competition. There are no advantage points either — you either score or you don’t. Submissions end the match instantly regardless of round, and all other point scoring follows IBJJF standards.

The ACBJJ 16 Card: Tournaments and Superfights

ACBJJ 16 packed three distinct competitions into one night. The Gi Super Cup ran an eight-man bracket tournament. The No Gi Super Cup ran a parallel eight-man tournament. And topping it all off, four championship superfights headlined the card with belts on the line in three weight classes.

Gi Super Cup: Matheus Felipe Steals the Show

The gi tournament was absolutely loaded with talent, and nobody expected what happened in the opening round. Matheus Felipe caught Roosevelt Sousa — a decorated black belt and IBJJF standout — with an ankle lock that appeared to cause a serious injury. It was a genuine upset that set the tone for Felipe’s entire run through the bracket.

In the semi-finals, Felipe ground out a points victory over Roman Lukashevich, who had beaten Rider Zuchi by judge’s decision in the quarters. On the other side of the bracket, Felipe Bezerra edged past Wesley Felix on points in the quarters and then Catriel Rodrigues by judge’s decision in the semis. Rodrigues had beaten Henrique Betta to get there.

The final was the exclamation point. Matheus Felipe locked up a bow and arrow choke on Bezerra and got the tap, capping off a tournament run that included two wins over highly regarded opponents and two finishes. If there was an MVP award for the night, Felipe earned it.

Gi Super Cup Results:

• Quarter-Finals: Matheus Felipe sub. Roosevelt Sousa (ankle lock), Lukashevich dec. Zuchi, Bezerra dec. Wesley Felix, Catriel Rodrigues dec. Henrique Betta
• Semi-Finals: Matheus Felipe dec. Lukashevich, Bezerra dec. Catriel Rodrigues
• Third Place: Catriel Rodrigues dec. Lukashevich
• Final: Matheus Felipe sub. Felipe Bezerra (bow and arrow choke)

No Gi Super Cup: Lom Ali Eskiev Runs Through the Field

The no gi side of the card belonged to Lom Ali Eskiev, a Russian MMA veteran whose grappling pedigree proved too much for the field. Eskiev opened with a kimura submission over Hassan Kushkush, then beat Diego Silva on points in the semi-finals to reach the final.

Eskiev’s performance throughout the no gi tournament was particularly noteworthy because of how he adapted his MMA-honed grappling to the ACBJJ ruleset. His wrestling base gave him an immediate advantage in the standup portions of every round — especially during that critical first minute when guard pulling is penalized. Where pure BJJ competitors sometimes struggled with the transition from their usual gameplan, Eskiev looked completely at home. His kimura finish over Kushkush in the quarters showed he’s not just a positional grinder either; the man has legitimate submission chops.

On the other side of the bracket, Yusup Saadulaev submitted Risto Dimitrov with an arm-triangle choke in the quarters, then outpointed Ramazan Gitinov in the semis. The third-place match ended in bizarre fashion when Diego Silva was disqualified for throwing a kick at Gitinov — a reminder that ACBJJ events can get heated in a hurry.

The final was a close, tactical battle between Eskiev and Saadulaev. Both men had shown submission ability earlier in the tournament, but neither could find the finish. Eskiev took the judge’s decision and the tournament title, adding another line to his already impressive combat sports resume.

No Gi Super Cup Results:

• Quarter-Finals: Gitinov dec. Akimzhan, Saadulaev sub. Dimitrov (arm-triangle choke), Eskiev sub. Kushkush (kimura), Diego Silva dec. Al Farsi
• Semi-Finals: Saadulaev dec. Gitinov, Eskiev dec. Diego Silva
• Third Place: Diego Silva def. Gitinov (DQ — kick)
• Final: Lom Ali Eskiev dec. Yusup Saadulaev

Championship Superfights: Belts, Upsets, and a Disqualification

The four superfights at the top of the card each told a different story.

Thalison Soares vs. Andrew Soares — Under 60kg Title: The first title fight was a chess match between two technical lightweights. Neither man could find a submission, and the pace stayed measured throughout. Thalison Soares took the judge’s decision and became the first ACBJJ under 60kg champion.

Dante Leon vs. Marcio Andre — Under 75kg Title: This was a real statement win for Dante Leon. Marcio Andre came in as the defending champion and one of the most dangerous lightweights in professional grappling. Leon outscored him 1-0 on points in a tight, technical battle that showcased his elite passing game. He left Doha with the belt.

Chris Weidman vs. Hector Lombard — MMA Crossover Superfight: This was the match everyone was talking about — two former UFC fighters going at it on the grappling mats. Weidman, the former UFC middleweight champion, and Lombard, one of the most physically imposing fighters in MMA history, engaged in a grinding battle that escalated beyond the ruleset. Lombard got disqualified for throwing punches, giving Weidman the win in the most chaotic finish of the night. It was pure MMA energy on a grappling card, and the crowd loved every second of it.

The Weidman-Lombard situation was actually a perfect encapsulation of what makes ACBJJ events different from traditional grappling shows. Both men came from MMA backgrounds where physical intensity is the norm, and the competitive heat between them boiled over. Weidman, who had been working to establish top position and grind Lombard down, found himself in a scramble where Lombard reverted to his fighting instincts. The referee stepped in immediately, and the DQ was awarded. It was messy, it was controversial, and it was absolutely entertaining.

Roberto Jimenez vs. Bruno Lima — Under 85kg Title: The main event delivered. Roberto Jimenez, one of the most exciting grapplers in the sport, battled Bruno Lima in a competitive fight that went the distance. Jimenez took the decision 2-1 on points and was crowned the new ACBJJ under 85kg champion. It was a fitting end to a card that had everything.

Why ACBJJ Keeps Getting Bigger

ACBJJ 16 was a showcase event, but it was far from a one-off. The promotion has continued building at a rapid pace, running events through ACBJJ 20 in Moscow this past December — a 27-match card where UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan submitted Mehdi Baydulaev with a rear-naked choke to win the inaugural All-Stars Championship. That card also featured UFC heavyweight Alexander Volkov, former Bellator champion Gleison Tibau, and UFC flyweight Amir Albazi all competing on the same night as elite BJJ athletes.

The MMA-to-grappling pipeline that ACBJJ has built is unlike anything else in the sport. Chris Weidman at ACBJJ 16 was just the beginning — now the promotion is pulling active UFC contenders and established MMA veterans alongside world-class jiu-jitsu competitors, creating matchups that simply don’t exist anywhere else.

And it’s about to get even more interesting. In February 2026, Zabit Magomedsharipov signed with ACBJJ for his first professional competition in over six years. The former UFC featherweight contender — who went 6-0 in the octagon with three finishes before stepping away — will make his grappling debut at an upcoming ACBJJ event. For a guy whose creative scrambles and unorthodox movement made him one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history, a submission-focused grappling format might be the perfect stage for his return.

You can watch the entire ACBJJ 16 event — every tournament match and superfight — for free on the official ACBJJ YouTube channel. Whether you’re there for the technical grappling, the MMA crossovers, or you just want to see Hector Lombard get disqualified for punching someone at a BJJ event, it’s well worth your time.