Almabaev secured a third-round submission victory over Johnson, grinding out the fight in the grappling exchanges before finishing with a Suloev Stretch late in the final round. The contest featured creative ground work from both fighters throughout.
Mukhammadali Almabaev earned a third-round submission victory over Jose "Zhakwarius" Johnson, finishing the bout with a Suloev Stretch late in the closing frame of their contest on June 27, 2026.
Johnson, a 31-year-old orthodox fighter from the United States competing out of Twin Wolves MMA, came in with a professional record of 16-10. Standing six feet tall with a 71-inch reach, he is a measured striker who lands at a rate of 2.27 significant strikes per minute and posts an impressive striking accuracy of 57 percent. Johnson is not without grappling tools of his own, averaging 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, and he was active on the mat throughout the contest.
Despite Johnson's effort in the grappling exchanges, Almabaev proved the superior technician on the ground. The two fighters engaged in creative ground work across all three rounds, but it was Almabaev who seized the decisive moment, locking in the Suloev Stretch — a rarely seen shoulder compression submission — to force the tap with little time remaining in round three.
Why it matters
- The Suloev Stretch is an uncommon finishing hold, signaling elite-level submission creativity from Almabaev.
- Johnson's active grappling game, reflected in his submission attempt rate, made the finish all the more notable given the competitive nature of the exchanges.
- The result adds a high-profile submission to Almabaev's record and reinforces his standing as a dangerous grappler in his division.
