ACA 117: Bagov vs Silverio Preview
Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) is set for their first major show of 2021 this Friday, February 12, 2021, inside the WOW Arena in Sochi, Russia. ACA 117: Bagov vs Silverio is currently stacked with 14 bouts topped with the main event featuring long-time ACA veteran Ali Bagov and UFC veteran Elias Silverio. Also on the card is a battle of top-ranked featherweights as Brazil’s Leonardo Limberger taking on Russia’s Dzhikhad Yunusov.
Main Event Showdown
Ali Bagov vs Elias Silverio
Ali Bagov
Making his first appearance of 2021, Ali Bagov (29-10) went 1-1 last year for ACA. That lone loss came at the hands of Murad Abdulaev at ACA 110 in September 2020, in which Abdulaev secured the ACA welterweight championship. Bagov made his debut with the organization all the way back at ACB 2 in March 2014. Since then, he has remained one of the organization’s shining stars. Known for his outstanding groundwork, 23 of his 29 career victories have come by submission.
Though Bagov may have 10 losses, many came in the earlier half of his career, including a loss to MMA legend, Khabib Nurmagomedov in only Bagov’s fourth pro fight. Since 2013, the only other man to defeat Bagov is ACA’s legendary lightweight champion, Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov, which happened twice in the early ACB days. Bagov is currently the #6-ranked ACA welterweight and a win over the #4 welterweight would put him right up there for a shot at ACA gold very soon.
Elias Silverio
Elias Silverio (17-5-1) is currently the #4 ranked welterweight in the ACA rankings but is coming off of a loss to the #3 ranked Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov at ACA 113 in November 2020. With that being his only bout of 2020, his 2019 run was much more impressive, going 3-0 all over tough opponents. Silverio brings big-fight experience to this main event with five appearances in the UFC. His run started out very solid going 3-0. Unfortunately for Silverio, he dropped his next two and was cut from the organization. In his last four bouts, Silverio has compiled a 3-1 record inside ACA. With a win in the main event, Silverio could put himself in serious talks for a title shot if the timing is right or a rematch with Khiramagomedov.
Massive Featherweight Collision Set
Dzhikhad Yunusov vs Leonardo Limberger
Dzhikhad Yunusov
“Ivan the Terrible” Dzhikhad Yunusov (17-5) will walk into ACA’s first card of 2021 after coming off of a split series with UFC veteran and fellow ACA featherweight Diego Brandao. At ACA 100 in October 2019, Yunusov dropped a very close split decision to Brandao. He avenged the loss one year later at ACA 112 by unanimous decision. Similar to Bagov, Yunusov has fought for the organization since ACA 2 at the October 2014 show. Just prior to the Brandao duels, Yunusov earned a unanimous decision win over veteran Shooto Brasil and ACA fighter in Thiago Silva. Known to keep the pressure on his opponents and break them down over 15 minutes, 12 of his 17 career wins are by decision. With a big win at this show, Yunusov can begin to make his big push up the featherweight rankings.
Leonardo Limberger
Impressing in his ACA debut at ACA 114, Leonardo Limberger (14-1) earned a unanimous decision in November 2020. With half of his career 14 wins coming by decision, both of the fighters in this clash are used to dictating the pace and pressure. Showing off his abilities, Limberger earned his biggest win to date in his last outing at ACA 114 where he defeated a tough opponent in Dmitriy Parubchenko. According to Tapology, Limberger is the #4-ranked featherweight from Brazil. A win here could help solidify him as the top Brazilian featherweight in the world and line him up nicely for a featherweight title run.
