Charles Johnson is installed as the betting underdog for his flyweight clash with Asu Almabayev at UFC Baku this weekend. Johnson brings notable wins over current champion Joshua Van and top contender Lone'er Kavanagh into the bout.
Charles Johnson steps into UFC Baku this weekend as a betting underdog against eighth-ranked flyweight Asu Almabayev, a fight that carries genuine divisional weight despite Johnson's position on the odds board.
Johnson, nicknamed "InnerG," carries a 19-9 record into the contest and brings significant pedigree to the matchup. The 35-year-old American from Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach, giving him a size advantage rare at 125 pounds. He is a switch-stance striker who lands 4.77 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and also mixes in submission attempts at a rate of 0.3 per 15 minutes. Critically, his résumé includes victories over current flyweight champion Joshua Van and top contender Lone'er Kavanagh, making him one of the most credentialed fighters outside the title picture in the division.
Almabayev, fighting out of Kazakhstan under the DAR Pro Team banner, holds a 24-3 record and is ranked eighth in the flyweight division. The 32-year-old, known as "Zulfikar," is built around a wrestling-heavy attack, averaging an imposing 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.5 submission attempts in the same span. His striking output is measured, landing 2.31 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, suggesting he prefers to control positions rather than trade on the feet.
Why it matters
- Johnson's wins over Van and Kavanagh make this effectively a top-contender audition despite his underdog status
- An Almabayev victory would strengthen his case for a top-five ranking and a potential title shot at flyweight champion Joshua Van
- The stylistic contrast is stark — Johnson's reach, size, and striking versatility against Almabayev's elite grappling volume — giving neither fighter a clean blueprint for dominance
