UFC"Zulfikhar"Asu Almabayev Record: 24-3-0
FlyweightRecord24-3-0
Age32
DivisionFlyweight · #6
Combat Edge Elo1786
Last fightJun 27 2026
Asu Almabayev has a 24-3-0 professional record and is 32 years old in the Flyweight division, representing DAR Pro Team. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Asu Almabayev bio
Personal background
Asu Almabayev, nicknamed "Zulfikhar," is a Kazakhstani flyweight competing in the UFC with a professional record of 23-3. Born on January 25, 1994, in Kazakhstan, he was raised largely by his grandparents and began wrestling as a young boy, building the grappling foundation that defines his fighting today. He later added Brazilian jiu-jitsu and relocated to Almaty as the country's MMA scene matured around him. A compact 5'4" with a 65-inch reach, Almabayev fights out of the DAR Pro Team in Almaty and reflects the surge of high-level Central Asian talent reaching the sport's biggest stage.
Path to the UFC
Almabayev turned professional in 2013 and spent nearly a decade carving out a reputation across the Russian, Kazakh and Asian regional circuits, fighting for promotions including Fight Nights Global, M-1 Global, Alash Pride and BRAVE Combat Federation. The journey was not without setbacks – he absorbed an early loss to unbeaten prospect Tagir Ulanbekov in 2017 – but he rebounded into a long winning run. A 2019 unanimous-decision win over veteran Chris Kelades over five rounds at M-1 Challenge 105 showed his championship-level cardio, and a 2022 split-decision victory over former Bellator title challenger Zach Makovsky at BRAVE CF 60 helped earn him a UFC contract.
UFC career
Almabayev made an immediate statement in the Octagon, submitting Ode Osbourne with a second-round rear-naked choke in August 2023. He followed with a grappling-heavy unanimous decision over CJ Vergara at UFC 299 in March 2024, then outpointed Jose Johnson in June 2024. He closed 2024 with arguably his most important win yet, a unanimous decision over ranked Brazilian Matheus Nicolau in October that pushed him toward the top of the division.
That climb met its first UFC test in March 2025, when Almabayev was stopped by a third-round retirement against Manel Kape in a contender clash. He responded the way contenders must, grinding out a unanimous decision over Jose Ochoa in July 2025 and then submitting former title challenger Alex Perez with a third-round guillotine choke in November 2025. He is next scheduled to meet Charles Johnson as he pushes back toward title contention.
Fighting style
Almabayev is a relentless, wrestling-driven grappler who overwhelms opponents with volume takedowns and suffocating control time. Ten of his 23 wins have come by submission, most often the rear-naked choke, and his game is built on chaining entries, advancing position and forcing scrambles that play into his guillotine and choke offense. His decision wins are typically lopsided affairs dictated by control rather than damage, and even his three knockout wins reflect ground-and-pound off dominant top position. The one clear question mark is durability against elite strikers in extended exchanges, exposed in the Kape stoppage, but his pace and grappling depth make him a nightmare for anyone he can drag to the mat.
Career highlights
- Ranked-win over Matheus Nicolau — a 2024 unanimous decision over the established Brazilian contender that announced him as a flyweight threat.
- Submission of Alex Perez — choked out the former title challenger Alex Perez with a third-round guillotine in 2025.
- Elite grappling engine — 10 submission wins and a control-heavy style fueled by relentless takedowns out of the DAR Pro Team in Almaty.
Career snapshot
Asu Almabayev career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1786Great ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#65
Flyweight#6of 82 active
Peak1786
Last move+12
Opponent quality1647avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1786 Elo after defeating Charles Johnson (2026-06-27)
Similar Elo in Flyweight
Asu Almabayev quick answers
What is Asu Almabayev's record?
Asu Almabayev's professional MMA record is 24-3-0.
How old is Asu Almabayev?
Asu Almabayev is 32 years old.
What weight class is Asu Almabayev?
Asu Almabayev fights at Flyweight in UFC.
How tall is Asu Almabayev?
Asu Almabayev is 5'4" tall with a 65" reach.
How much does Asu Almabayev weigh?
Asu Almabayev competes at Flyweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 125 lbs.
What is Asu Almabayev's Combat Edge Elo?
Asu Almabayev's Combat Edge Elo is 1786, with a peak Elo of 1786.
How strong is Asu Almabayev's recent opposition?
Asu Almabayev's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1647 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Asu Almabayev's last fight?
Asu Almabayev's latest tracked pro fight was against Charles Johnson at UFC Fight Night on Jun 27 2026.
What is Asu Almabayev's recent form?
Asu Almabayev's recent tracked pro form is W-W-W-L-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Asu Almabayev usually win?
Asu Almabayev's 24 recorded wins include 3 knockouts, 11 submissions, and 10 decisions, with 58% ending before the final bell.
3Wins by knockout
11Wins by submission
10Wins by decision
2Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
1Loss by decision
Asu Almabayev stats
Record : 24 / 3 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
2.31Fighter3.39Division average
Significant striking accuracy
51%Fighter44%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
1.99Fighter3.88Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
54%Fighter54%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
4.46Fighter1.51Division average
Takedown accuracy
43%Fighter35%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
44%Fighter53%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
1.49Fighter0.57Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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