Asu Almabayev finished Charles Johnson with a Suloev stretch submission in the third round at UFC Baku, extending his winning streak to three fights. Almabayev improves to 24-3 overall and 7-1 inside the UFC, positioning himself as a contender pushing toward the flyweight top five. Johnson falls to 19-9, dropping three of his last five bouts.
Asu Almabayev cemented his place among flyweight's most dangerous contenders on June 27, submitting Charles Johnson with a Suloev stretch in the third round at UFC Baku to push his winning streak to three consecutive fights.
Almabayev, known as "Zulfikar," improves to 24-3 overall and a stellar 7-1 inside the Octagon. The 32-year-old Kazakhstani represents DAR Pro Team and currently sits at number eight in the flyweight rankings. His grappling-heavy style is built on volume takedowns, averaging an impressive 4.46 per 15 minutes, and a consistent submission threat at 1.5 attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that made the Suloev stretch finish an entirely fitting way to close out the contest. He carries a 50 percent striking accuracy as well, making him difficult to read on the feet despite his primary identity as a wrestler.
Johnson, nicknamed "InnerG," falls to 19-9 with the defeat, his third loss in his last five outings. The 35-year-old American representing Murcielago MMA had arrived in Azerbaijan as a capable switch-stance striker, landing nearly 4.77 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. At five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach, he held a considerable size advantage over the five-foot-four Almabayev, but was ultimately unable to keep the fight standing long enough to make it count.
Why it matters
- Almabayev at 7-1 in the UFC and ranked eighth is now knocking on the door of the flyweight top five
- Three straight wins signal consistent upward momentum in one of the promotion's most competitive divisions
- His submission game — demonstrated vividly with the Suloev stretch — gives him a finishing threat that few flyweights can replicate
- Johnson's third loss in five bouts raises questions about where he fits in the division's upper tier at 35 years old
