Asu Almabayev pulled out of the UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno after suffering a hand injury. Sherdog reported that the withdrawal came a little more than three weeks before the scheduled fight, and that Almabayev confirmed the injury in an Instagram post. The setback matters because it removes a high-profile flyweight headliner and likely delays Almabayev’s chance to make a statement against a former UFC champion.
Asu Almabayev has been forced out of the UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno due to a hand injury, with the withdrawal coming roughly three weeks before the scheduled bout. Almabayev confirmed the injury himself in an Instagram post, as reported by Sherdog.
Almabayev, known by his nickname "Zulfikar," enters 2026 as one of the more quietly dangerous flyweights on the roster. The 32-year-old from Kazakhstan carries a 24-3-0 record and sits ranked eighth in the flyweight division, representing DAR Pro Team out of an orthodox stance. Standing five-foot-four with a 65-inch reach, he brings a well-rounded game built on consistent grappling pressure, averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also contributes offensively on the feet, landing 2.31 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent striking accuracy clip, and adds 1.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes to keep opponents guessing on the ground.
Why it matters
- The withdrawal strips UFC Mexico City of its main event, leaving the card in need of a replacement headliner or a reshuffle
- Almabayev loses what would have been a marquee opportunity against a former UFC flyweight champion, a win that could have vaulted him toward title contention
- Brandon Moreno, a Mexican fighter who would have competed in front of a home crowd, now faces uncertainty about whether and when a rescheduled matchup takes place
- A delay pushes Almabayev's divisional progress back, as a victory over Moreno would have carried significant ranking weight at 125 pounds
