Asu Almabayev
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:37:53 PM Wikipedia source
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev (Kazakh: Асу Абайұлы Алмабаев; born January 25, 1994) is a Kazakh professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2013, Almabayev has also competed in M-1 Global, where he is a former Interim M-1 Global Flyweight Champion. As of November 25, 2025, he is #7 in the UFC flyweight rankings.
Infobox
Born
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev (1994-01-25) January 25, 1994 (age 31)Janatalap, Sarysu District, Kazakhstan
Native name
Асу Абайұлы Алмабаев
Nickname
Zulfikar
Height
5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight
125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division
Flyweight
Reach
65 in (165 cm)
Stance
Orthodox
Fighting out of
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Team
DAR Pro Team
Years active
2013–present
Total
26
Wins
23
By knockout
2
By submission
10
By decision
1
Losses
3
Tables
Professional record breakdown · Mixed martial arts record
By knockout
By knockout
26 matches
By knockout
23 wins
3
3 losses
2
By submission
By submission
26 matches
By submission
23 wins
10
3 losses
0
By decision
By decision
26 matches
By decision
23 wins
10
3 losses
1
| 26 matches | 23 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 2 |
| By submission | 10 | 0 |
| By decision | 10 | 1 |
· Mixed martial arts record
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
23–3
Opponent
Alex Perez
Method
Submission (guillotine choke)
Event
UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker
Date
November 22, 2025
Round
3
Time
0:22
Location
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
22–3
Opponent
Jose Ochoa
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder
Date
July 26, 2025
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
21–3
Opponent
Manel Kape
Method
TKO (retirement)
Event
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev
Date
March 1, 2025
Round
3
Time
2:16
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
21–2
Opponent
Matheus Nicolau
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira
Date
October 19, 2024
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
20–2
Opponent
Jose Johnson
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira
Date
June 15, 2024
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
19–2
Opponent
C.J. Vergara
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC 299
Date
March 9, 2024
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Miami, Florida, United States
Notes
Catchweight (127 lb) bout; Vergara missed weight.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
18–2
Opponent
Ode' Osbourne
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font
Date
August 5, 2023
Round
2
Time
3:11
Location
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Notes
Performance of the Night.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
17–2
Opponent
Kenneth Maningat
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Brave CF 66
Date
November 26, 2022
Round
2
Time
3:30
Location
Bali, Indonesia
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
16–2
Opponent
Zach Makovsky
Method
Decision (split)
Event
Brave CF 60
Date
July 30, 2022
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Isa Town, Bahrain
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
15–2
Opponent
Imram Magaramov
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
Brave CF 57
Date
March 11, 2022
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Isa Town, Bahrain
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
14–2
Opponent
Kayck Alencar
Method
KO (punch)
Event
Naiza FC 36
Date
December 29, 2021
Round
3
Time
0:27
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
13–2
Opponent
Aleksander Doskalchuk
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Brave CF 53
Date
August 21, 2021
Round
2
Time
3:47
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
12–2
Opponent
Darkhan Skakov
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Naiza FC 27
Date
December 24, 2020
Round
1
Time
3:29
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Notes
Won the vacant Naiza FC Flyweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
11–2
Opponent
Chris Kelades
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
M-1 Challenge 105
Date
October 19, 2019
Round
5
Time
5:00
Location
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Notes
Won the interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
10–2
Opponent
Pierre Ludet
Method
Submission (guillotine choke)
Event
M-1 Challenge 101
Date
March 30, 2019
Round
2
Time
1:45
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
9–2
Opponent
Kiril Fomenkov
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
M-1 Challenge 100
Date
December 15, 2018
Round
2
Time
3:51
Location
Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
8–2
Opponent
Saud Karagishov
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
Fight Nights Global 88
Date
August 31, 2018
Round
2
Time
4:09
Location
Astana, Kazakhstan
Notes
Catchweight (130 lb) bout; Karagishov missed weight.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
7–2
Opponent
Shamil Akhmaev
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
Berkut Young Eagles 4
Date
April 29, 2018
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Tolstoy-Yurt, Russia
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
6–2
Opponent
Kenan Jafarli
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
Alash Pride FC: Almaty Arena
Date
December 30, 2017
Round
2
Time
5:00
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
5–2
Opponent
Ibrahim Mamaev
Method
Submission (Peruvian necktie)
Event
ACB 69
Date
September 9, 2017
Round
2
Time
2:07
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
4–2
Opponent
Mehman Mamedov
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
Alash Pride FC: Alash Aibary
Date
April 1, 2017
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
4–1
Opponent
Tagir Ulanbekov
Method
TKO (submission to punches)
Event
Fight Nights Global 58
Date
January 28, 2017
Round
3
Time
4:51
Location
Kaspiysk, Russia
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
4–0
Opponent
Galamirza Ayvazov
Method
Submission (armbar)
Event
Fight Nights Global 45
Date
April 22, 2016
Round
1
Time
3:41
Location
Ufa, Russia
Notes
Catchweight (130 lb) bout.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
3–0
Opponent
Oleg Erik
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Tech-Krep FC: Southern Front 3
Date
March 3, 2016
Round
1
Time
4:04
Location
Krasnodar, Russia
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
2–0
Opponent
Yeldos Kaliev
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
Alash Pride FC: Selection 13
Date
February 14, 2016
Round
1
Time
4:32
Location
Kaskelen, Kazakhstan
Notes
Flyweight debut.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
1–0
Opponent
Vadim Buseev
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
R.O.D: Shield and Sword 4
Date
June 1, 2013
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Moscow, Russia
Notes
Bantamweight debut.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 23–3 | Alex Perez | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker | November 22, 2025 | 3 | 0:22 | Al Rayyan, Qatar | |
| Win | 22–3 | Jose Ochoa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder | July 26, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 21–3 | Manel Kape | TKO (retirement) | UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev | March 1, 2025 | 3 | 2:16 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 21–2 | Matheus Nicolau | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira | October 19, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–2 | Jose Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira | June 15, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–2 | Vergara | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 299 | March 9, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Catchweight (127 lb) bout; Vergara missed weight. |
| Win | 18–2 | Ode' Osbourne | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font | August 5, 2023 | 2 | 3:11 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–2 | Kenneth Maningat | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Brave CF 66 | November 26, 2022 | 2 | 3:30 | Bali, Indonesia | |
| Win | 16–2 | Zach Makovsky | Decision (split) | Brave CF 60 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Isa Town, Bahrain | |
| Win | 15–2 | Imram Magaramov | Decision (unanimous) | Brave CF 57 | March 11, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Isa Town, Bahrain | |
| Win | 14–2 | Kayck Alencar | KO (punch) | Naiza FC 36 | December 29, 2021 | 3 | 0:27 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Win | 13–2 | Aleksander Doskalchuk | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Brave CF 53 | August 21, 2021 | 2 | 3:47 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Win | 12–2 | Darkhan Skakov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Naiza FC 27 | December 24, 2020 | 1 | 3:29 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | Won the vacant Naiza FC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–2 | Chris Kelades | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 105 | October 19, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan | Won the interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–2 | Pierre Ludet | Submission (guillotine choke) | M-1 Challenge 101 | March 30, 2019 | 2 | 1:45 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Win | 9–2 | Kiril Fomenkov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 100 | December 15, 2018 | 2 | 3:51 | Atyrau, Kazakhstan | |
| Win | 8–2 | Saud Karagishov | TKO (punches) | Fight Nights Global 88 | August 31, 2018 | 2 | 4:09 | Astana, Kazakhstan | Catchweight (130 lb) bout; Karagishov missed weight. |
| Win | 7–2 | Shamil Akhmaev | Decision (unanimous) | Berkut Young Eagles 4 | April 29, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Tolstoy-Yurt, Russia | |
| Win | 6–2 | Kenan Jafarli | Decision (unanimous) | Alash Pride FC: Almaty Arena | December 30, 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Win | 5–2 | Ibrahim Mamaev | Submission (Peruvian necktie) | ACB 69 | September 9, 2017 | 2 | 2:07 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Mehman Mamedov | Decision (unanimous) | Alash Pride FC: Alash Aibary | April 1, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | TKO (submission to punches) | Fight Nights Global 58 | January 28, 2017 | 3 | 4:51 | Kaspiysk, Russia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Galamirza Ayvazov | Submission (armbar) | Fight Nights Global 45 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 3:41 | Ufa, Russia | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. |
| Win | 3–0 | Oleg Erik | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tech-Krep FC: Southern Front 3 | March 3, 2016 | 1 | 4:04 | Krasnodar, Russia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Yeldos Kaliev | TKO (punches) | Alash Pride FC: Selection 13 | February 14, 2016 | 1 | 4:32 | Kaskelen, Kazakhstan | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Vadim Buseev | Decision (unanimous) | Shield and Sword 4 | June 1, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | Bantamweight debut. |
References
- informburo.kzhttps://informburo.kz/kaz/newskaz/qazaqstandyq-asu-almabaev-ufc-degi-algasqy-zekpe-zeginde-zeniske-zetti
- ufcstats.comhttp://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/8d3273573b85be09
- www.ufc.comhttps://www.ufc.com/rankings
- "Работал на рынке, дрался в ночных клубах, дружит с Рахмоновым, дебютант UFC: кто такой Асу Алмабаев"https://mma.metaratings.ru/articles/rabotal-na-rynke-dralsya-v-nochnykh-klubakh-druzhit-s-rakhmonovym-debyutant-ufc-kto-takoi-asu-almabaev/
- "От продавца на базаре до бойца UFC. История Асу Алмабаев"https://vesti.kz/ufc/ot-prodavtsa-na-bazare-do-boytsa-ufc-istoriya-asu-almabaeva-326115/
- "Асу Алмабаев: биография, статистика, рекорд, национальность, лучшие бои, где тренируется, чем увлекается"https://mma.metaratings.ru/persons/asu-almabaev/
- "Асу Алмабаев официально пополнил ростер UFC. Что известно о казахстанском бойце?"https://prosports.kz/news/594284-asu-almabaev-oficialno-popolnil-roster-ufc-cto-izvestno-o-kazaxstanskom-boice/
- "Almabayev vs Doskalchuk"https://fightsmma.com/mma-fights/Asu-Almabayev-vs-Aleksander-Doskalchuk-id1483695
- "Brave CF 57 Results"https://combatpress.com/2022/03/brave-cf-57-results/
- "Brave CF 60"https://www.sherdog.com/events/Brave-CF-60-Brave-Combat-Federation-60-93283
- "Brave CF 66"https://www.sherdog.com/events/Brave-CF-66-Brave-Combat-Federation-66-95366
- cagesidepress.comhttps://cagesidepress.com/2023/05/26/ode-osbourne-welcomes-asu-almabaev-ufc-august-5/
- Cageside Presshttps://cagesidepress.com/2023/08/05/ufc-nashville-ode-osbourne-vs-assu-almabayev/
- "UFC on ESPN 50 bonuses: Tatiana Suarez among five $50,000 'Music City' winners"https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-espn-50-nashville-bonuses-50000-submission-knockout-tatiana-suarez-dustin-jacoby-assu-almabayev
- www.itnwwe.comhttps://www.itnwwe.com/mma/cj-vergara-vs-assu-almabayev-reported-for-ufc-299-ppv/
- "UFC 299 weigh-in results, video: Fighter misses mark for third time"https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/03/ufc-299-weigh-ins-results-live-stream-omalley-vs-vera
- Cageside Presshttps://cagesidepress.com/2024/03/09/ufc-299-assu-almabayev-extends-streak-to-fifteen-wins-beats-overweight-c-j-vergara/
- mmajunkiehttps://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/05/ufc-news-tatsuro-taira-vs-alex-perez-main-event-booked-june-15
- Cageside Presshttps://cagesidepress.com/2024/06/15/ufc-vegas-93-asu-almabayev-continues-ascent-extends-streak-versus-jose-johnson/
- "Asu Almabayev says he's fighting Matheus Nicolau at UFC Fight Night in October"https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/07/ufc-news-asu-almabayev-vs-matheus-nicolau-flyweight-mma-fight-booking-matchup-announcement
- "UFC Vegas 99: Asu Almabayev Improves to 4-0 in UFC with Win Over Matheus Nicolau"https://cagesidepress.com/2024/10/19/ufc-vegas-99-asu-almabayev-improves-to-4-0-in-ufc-with-win-over-matheus-nicolau/
- MMAmania.comhttps://www.mmamania.com/2025/1/2/24334600/sorry-ufc-312-will-not-be-fighting-in-his-home-country-at-the-apex-asu-almabayev-steve-erceg
- "Allan Nascimento Replaces Steve Erceg, Meets Asu Almabayev at UFC Vegas 103"https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Allan-Nascimento-Replaces-Steve-Erceg-Meets-Asu-Almabayev-at-UFC-Vegas-103-196023
- Cageside Presshttps://cagesidepress.com/2025/02/06/ufc-royval-out-kape-gets-almabaev/
- "UFC Vegas 103: Eye Poke Undetected by Ref, Manel Kape Gets Stoppage Over Asu Almabayev"https://cagesidepress.com/2025/03/01/ufc-vegas-103-eye-poke-undetected-by-ref-manel-kape-gets-stoppage-over-asu-almabayev/
- Sherdoghttps://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Abu-Dhabi-Adds-Asu-Almabayev-vs-Ramazonbek-Temirov-at-Flyweight-196885
- MMAmania.comhttps://www.mmamania.com/2025/7/8/24464088/festering-wound-triggers-failed-drug-test-bounces-flyweight-prospect-ramazan-temirov-ufc-abu-dhabi
- "UFC Abu Dhabi: Bogdan Guskov Smashes Nikita Krylov For Fourth Straight Finish"https://cagesidepress.com/2025/07/26/ufc-abu-dhabi-bogdan-guskov-smashes-nikita-krylov-for-fourth-straight-finish/
- "Алекс Перес срещу Асу Алмабаев на UFC в Катар"https://mma.bg/novini/mma-novini/aleks-peres-sreshtu-asu-almabaev-na-ufc-v-katar
- "Asu Almabayev Submits Alex Perez in Qatar Thriller"https://cagesidepress.com/2025/11/22/asu-almabayev-submits-alex-perez-in-qatar-thriller/
- Sherdoghttps://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Asu-Almabaev-219183