Russia’s largest mixed martial arts organization, Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), is set for a big event this weekend, October 23, 2025, with two massive heavyweights set to steal the show at ACA 194. Heavy-handed American knockout artist, Tony Johnson Jr., will take to the spotlight on foreign territory as he battles very dangerous finisher, Amir Aliakbari. A victory against Aliakbari would make Johnson 3-1 in his last four bouts, putting him right back in the thick of the heavyweight championship picture.
Tony Johnson Jr.: Entering the World of MMA
Tony Johnson Jr. bridged into MMA after a successful wrestling career. “Being in wrestling my whole life made my transition into MMA easy,” Tony Johnson Jr. told MMASucka. Johnson’s superior knowledge of the mats came under the tutelage of National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach, Bob Latessa. “I would have to give credit to my wrestling coach Bob Latessa. I was always talented but he made sure I put the work in because we all should know, ‘Work beats talent’ when talent doesn’t work hard enough,” stated Johnson.
Tony Johnson Jr.: Finally Stepping Into the Cage
The big professional debut for Tony Johnson Jr. in an MMA cage would come on the Florida regional scene in November 2008. After a couple of more regional scene bouts, Johnson found himself sitting at 3-0 with a title shot slated for King of the Cage heavyweight title against reigning champion, Tony Lopez. Lopez was 18-2 at the time of the matchup and would go on to earn a record of 65-33 as of August 2025. After earning the championship via unanimous decision. Johnson would drop the championship in his fifth bout as a professional to one of the greatest fighters of all time in Daniel Cormier.
Image: ACA.
Tony Johnson Jr. Progressing to the Bigger Leagues
After a solid rebound win at KOTC: Infusion in November 2010, Johnson would find himself stepping onto bigger MMA stages with his first appearance under the Bellator banner in June 2011 on the Bellator 46 prelims. Taking on the future’s very best to ever compete as heavyweights, Johnson’s Bellator debut would see him battle “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis. Tony Johnson Jr. would push the pace, bringing Lewis to the time limit and earning the unanimous decision over the former UFC title challenger.
Taking on his third heavyweight legend in four bouts, Johnson would then encounter former UFC heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia, at One FC 9 in May 2013. After a first round that started out with heavy striking from both sides, Johnson was able to stifle Sylvia with his superior wrestling game. The second round saw Johnson with the top position control, dominating the former UFC champion on the mat. In the third frame of action, an elbow would eventually lead to a doctor’s stoppage, giving Johnson the hard-fought victory.
Tony Johnson Jr.: A New King in Russia
Over the next six years, Tony Johnson Jr. would appear for a handful of organizations, including a successful run in Bellator and a bare knuckle first-round victory in the Bare Knuckle Boxing organization. Including his bare knuckle appearance, Johnson would go 6-3-1 prior to the most successful run of his MMA career, his current tenure in the ACA organization. This run also included victories over Alexander Volkov, DJ Linderman, and a draw with Aleksander Emelianenko, which took place in Moscow, Russia.
The highlights of Johnson’s career have come since 2019 upon joining ACA. Making a name for himself right out of the gate, Johnson would secure a second-round submission at ACA 92: Poland in February 2019. After two tough outings against current champion and all-time Russian great, Evgeny Goncharov, Johnson would take the year off and return in November 2020 at ACA 114 to defeat Daniel Omielanczuk via first-round knockout to capture the ACA heavyweight championship.
Dominant Title Year
November 2020 to November 2021 would go on to be Johnson’s most dominant year. After earning the championship in November 2020, he would defend it twice with both bouts ending with TKO stoppages. He would defeat Dmitry Poberezhets and Mukhamad Vakhaev, who at the time of their respective bouts, had a combined 36-9-2 record. Returning to action in March 2022, Johnson has gone 2-4 facing a “murderer’s row” of Russian heavyweights. For Johnson as an American in ACA, every bout must seem like an “away game.”
“As a foreigner it would definitely be tough being successful. When fighting overseas you have to understand its kill or be killed. My first time fighting in Russia walking out I could hear crickets, but now I’ve shed a lot of blood, given the crowd amazing knockouts. Win, lose or draw with me there’s always blood. I now have a huge Russian fan base,” stated Johnson.
Johnson has a chance to return to his glorious ACA days with a big win against Aliakbari, the No. 9-ranked heavyweight according to the ACA rankings, where Johnson currently sits at No. 5. So what can we expect when the “Hulk” re-enters the ACA cage? “The crowd can expect a violent finish!”