Asu Almabayev's submission of Charles Johnson was his third career UFC finish and his second by submission, putting him one submission victory away from entering the top three all-time in flyweight division submission wins. Now 7-1 in the UFC with 33 career takedowns, Almabayev is viewed as a serious contender, though questions remain about his ceiling against the division's elite.
Asu Almabayev extended his impressive UFC run at UFC Baku, submitting Charles Johnson to record his second submission finish inside the octagon and move within one victory of cracking the all-time top three in flyweight division submission wins.
Almabayev, known as "Zulfikar," enters the record books from a position of genuine divisional relevance. The 32-year-old Kazakhstani holds a 24-3 overall record and sits at number eight in the flyweight rankings. Now 7-1 inside the UFC, he has accumulated 33 career takedowns and attempts submissions at a rate of 1.5 per 15 minutes, making him one of the most persistently dangerous grapplers in the 125-pound division. Standing five-foot-four with a 65-inch reach, he compensates for modest physical dimensions with elite wrestling output, averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Johnson, a 35-year-old from the United States competing out of Murcielago MMA, came in at 19-9 and carried legitimate striking credentials. He averages 4.77 significant strikes per minute with 49 percent accuracy and fights out of a switch stance, giving opponents varied looks on the feet. His takedown rate of 0.51 per 15 minutes left him largely dependent on the stand-up game, and Almabayev's relentless wrestling proved to be the deciding factor.
Why it matters
- Almabayev's third UFC finish and second submission puts him one win from the all-time top three in flyweight submission victories, a landmark that would cement his legacy in the division.
- At number eight in the rankings, continued finishes sharpen his case for a top-five opponent and a potential title eliminator.
- His grappling-heavy style, anchored by a 4.46 takedown rate, presents a stylistic problem for almost any flyweight not built specifically to defend elite wrestling.
