Flyweight contender Asu Almabayev has spoken about his upcoming opponent Charles Johnson, describing him as a skilled and experienced UFC fighter. Almabayev acknowledged the dangers Johnson presents, noting that Johnson has previously knocked out Joshua Van, but expressed full confidence in his own readiness. He stated he fears no one and intends to fight to the finish.
Flyweight contender Asu Almabayev has gone on record ahead of his upcoming UFC bout with Charles Johnson, offering a candid assessment of his opponent while making clear he has no intention of leaving the outcome to the judges.
Almabayev, known as "Zulfikar," enters the fight ranked eighth in the flyweight division with a record of 24 wins and 3 losses. The 32-year-old Kazakhstani, who trains out of DAR Pro Team, is a relentless grappler by the numbers — averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He carries a 50 percent striking accuracy and lands 2.31 significant strikes per minute, a profile that reflects a fighter who does his real damage on the canvas.
Johnson, fighting out of Murcielago MMA, brings a seasoned 19-9 record into the matchup. The 35-year-old American stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach and is a switch-stance striker who lands 4.77 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. Almabayev specifically pointed to Johnson's knockout of Joshua Van as evidence of the threat he poses — a notable scalp given that Van currently holds flyweight champion status and averages a remarkable 8.84 significant strikes per minute with 56 percent accuracy.
Despite that acknowledgment, Almabayev was clear that respect does not equal hesitation. He described Johnson as skilled and experienced, but stated he fears no one and plans to fight all the way to a finish.
Why it matters
- A win would strengthen Almabayev's case for a top-five flyweight ranking and keep him in title contention
- Johnson's victory over champion Joshua Van signals he remains a legitimate threat at 125 pounds
- The matchup pits Almabayev's high-volume grappling against Johnson's switch-stance striking and length advantage — a genuine stylistic test for both men
