Flyweight contender Asu Almabayev spoke about his upcoming opponent Charles Johnson, calling him a skilled, experienced, and artistic fighter. Almabayev acknowledged the dangers Johnson presents but said he has no reason to fear anyone, noting that Johnson has finished Joshua Van by knockout. He vowed to fight until the end and use every opportunity to come out on top.
Flyweight contender Asu Almabayev has gone on record ahead of his upcoming bout with Charles Johnson, offering a candid assessment of his opponent while making clear he intends to leave nothing on the table when the two meet.
Almabayev, known by the nickname "Zulfikar," holds a 24-3-0 record and is currently ranked eighth in the flyweight division. The 32-year-old Kazakhstani, who competes out of DAR Pro Team, is a persistent grappling threat, averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes along with 1.5 submission attempts in the same span. He carries a 50 percent striking accuracy and lands 2.31 significant strikes per minute, reflecting a style built more around control and finishing on the ground than volume on the feet.
Johnson, nicknamed "InnerG," brings a seasoned 19-9-0 record into the matchup. The 35-year-old American from Murcielago MMA fights out of a switch stance and stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach, giving him notable physical advantages over Almabayev. Johnson lands 4.77 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and has also shown submission awareness with 0.3 attempts per 15 minutes. Almabayev specifically cited Johnson's knockout of current flyweight champion Joshua Van as evidence of the danger his opponent carries.
Despite acknowledging those risks, Almabayev stated he has no reason to fear Johnson and vowed to fight until the very end, taking every opportunity available to secure the victory.
Why it matters
- Almabayev sits at number eight in the flyweight rankings, making a strong performance critical to any title ambitions
- Johnson's highlight-reel knockout of champion Joshua Van signals legitimate finishing power that Almabayev will need to account for
- The contrasting styles — Almabayev's high-volume grappling versus Johnson's switch-stance striking and reach advantage — set up a genuine tactical puzzle for both camps
