Almabaev ground out a victory over Johnson, controlling him on the mat before finishing with a Suleimanov stretch late in round three. The bout featured creative and dynamic grappling exchanges from both fighters.
Zamir Almabaev earned a third-round submission victory over Jose "Zhakwarius" Johnson, finishing the fight with a Suleimanov stretch to cap off an evening of technical, high-level grappling.
Johnson, a 31-year-old American fighting out of Twin Wolves MMA, entered the bout carrying a 16-10 record. Standing six feet tall with a 71-inch reach, he is a measured striker who lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate. He also mixes in a modest grappling game, averaging 0.69 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting he is capable on the mat even if it is not his primary weapon.
Almabaev controlled the majority of the fight from the ground, steadily working Johnson into compromised positions before securing the finishing hold late in the third round. The Suleimanov stretch — a relatively rare submission — underscored the creative and dynamic nature of the grappling exchanges that defined the contest.
Why it matters
- The submission finish highlights Almabaev's willingness to deploy unconventional grappling techniques under pressure
- Johnson's 16-10 record reflects a long and active career, making this a meaningful scalp for Almabaev's ledger
- The bout demonstrated that creative mat work remains a decisive factor at this level of competition, rewarding fighters who expand beyond traditional submission attempts
