Almabaev ground out a finish against Johnson, dominating in grappling exchanges before locking in a Suloev stretch submission near the end of the third round. The bout featured creative ground work from both fighters throughout.
Jose Johnson came up short in a grappling-heavy contest, tapping out to a Suloev stretch submission late in the third round as his opponent Almabaev secured the finish on June 27, 2026.
Johnson, known as "Zhakwarius," entered the bout carrying a 16-10 record. The 31-year-old American fights out of Twin Wolves MMA and stands six feet tall with a 71-inch reach. An orthodox striker, Johnson posts 2.27 significant strikes landed per minute at an impressive 57 percent accuracy, showing he is capable on the feet as well as on the ground, where he averages 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Despite Johnson's own grappling ambitions, it was Almabaev who controlled the wrestling exchanges throughout the fight. The bout featured inventive ground work from both men, but Almabaev proved the more dangerous threat on the mat, eventually securing the Suloev stretch — a relatively uncommon submission targeting the knee and hip — with time winding down in the third frame.
Why it matters
- Almabaev demonstrated elite submission hunting, finishing with one of the sport's more technically demanding holds
- Johnson's grappling credentials made the finish more significant, as he is no novice on the ground
- The loss pushes Johnson to 16-10, potentially complicating his divisional positioning depending on where the bout was contested
