Asu Almabayev ground out a hard-fought victory over Johnson, controlling the bout on the mat before finishing with a stretch submission late in the third round. Both fighters produced creative ground work throughout an entertaining contest.
Asu Almabayev added another submission victory to his resume on June 27, 2026, finishing his opponent Johnson with a stretch submission late in the third round to earn a hard-fought win.
Almabayev, known by his nickname Zulfikar, is ranked eighth in the flyweight division and enters this result at 24-3-0. The 32-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of DAR Pro Team and has built his reputation as a relentless grappler. His numbers reflect that identity — he averages 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.5 submissions in the same span, making him one of the more active wrestlers in the 125-pound weight class. He also carries a 50 percent striking accuracy and lands 2.31 significant strikes per minute, giving him a well-rounded offensive game to complement his mat work.
The bout itself was anything but straightforward. Both fighters engaged in creative ground exchanges throughout, and control shifted before Almabayev ultimately imposed his will in the championship minutes of the third round, securing the stretch submission to close it out.
Why it matters
- Almabayev's win at ranked eighth keeps him in the mix for a potential top-five matchup in the flyweight division.
- His combination of high takedown volume and active submission hunting makes him a difficult stylistic problem for any opponent.
- A finish victory, rather than a decision, carries additional weight when the UFC considers contender matchups at 125 pounds.
