Almabayev ground out a victory over Johnson, controlling the grappling exchanges before finishing with a Suleymanov Stretch submission near the end of the third round. The bout featured creative ground work from both fighters throughout.
Asu "Zulfikar" Almabayev secured a third-round submission victory over Jose "Zhakwarius" Johnson on June 27, 2026, finishing the bout with a Suleymanov Stretch to cap off a performance built on persistent grappling pressure.
Almabayev, the eighth-ranked flyweight from Kazakhstan, carries a record of 24 wins and 3 losses at 32 years old. Fighting out of DAR Pro Team, the five-foot-four orthodox wrestler is one of the division's most relentless takedown artists, averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also pursues submissions at a rate of 1.5 attempts per 15 minutes, and the finishing hold he deployed against Johnson — the Suleymanov Stretch — underscored the depth of his submission game on the ground.
Johnson, a 31-year-old from the United States representing Twin Wolves MMA, entered the bout with a record of 16-10. The six-foot orthodox fighter carries a 71-inch reach and lands significant strikes at a rate of 2.27 per minute with an accuracy of 57 percent. His own grappling credentials were on display throughout the contest, as Johnson averaged 0.69 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, contributing to what both men made a technically busy fight on the mat.
Why it matters
- The win reinforces Almabayev's standing as a top-ten flyweight threat with legitimate finishing ability
- His elite takedown volume combined with a rare submission finish signals a well-rounded grappling arsenal
- Johnson's solid striking accuracy made for a competitive matchup, giving Almabayev's ground control added weight as a result
