Asu Almabayev
Zulfikar
Kazakhstan
Leans on wrestling in victory
Almabayev defeated Jose Ochoa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
Almabayev is a one-dimensional wrestler. It can look quite ugly when his takedown attempts aren't landing, but when they are, like they were this evening, he's a threat in there. Almabayev fired off a whopping 16 tries, connecting on seven of them. Those seven shots turned into 9:26 worth of control time, all but assuring Ochoa had zero chance of winning a fight which went to the scorecards. Almabayev improves to 5-1 in the UFC, with the lone setback coming against a guy in Manel Kape that is likely to be fighting for the UFC Flyweight Championship in short order.
Almabayev is a one-dimensional wrestler. It can look quite ugly when his takedown attempts aren't landing, but when they are, like they were this evening, he's a threat in there. Almabayev fired off a whopping 16 tries, connecting on seven of them. Those seven shots turned into 9:26 worth of control time, all but assuring Ochoa had zero chance of winning a fight which went to the scorecards. Almabayev improves to 5-1 in the UFC, with the lone setback coming against a guy in Manel Kape that is likely to be fighting for the UFC Flyweight Championship in short order.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
New opponent scheduled
Almabayev is scheduled to compete against Jose Ochoa in a flyweight fight at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Almabayev and Ramazan Temirov were scheduled to fight at UFC Abu Dhabi. Temirov, without a disclosed problem, has withdrawn from their fight, so Almabayev has Ochoa next instead. Ochoa is coming off a strong knockout win over Cody Durden.
Almabayev and Ramazan Temirov were scheduled to fight at UFC Abu Dhabi. Temirov, without a disclosed problem, has withdrawn from their fight, so Almabayev has Ochoa next instead. Ochoa is coming off a strong knockout win over Cody Durden.
Taking on Temirov in July
Almabayev will face Ramazan Temirov at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Almabayev will head into the fight looking to bounce back after a TKO defeat at the hands of Manel Kape in his most recent bout. The 5-foot-4 fighter from Kazakhstan will look to use a slight reach advantage to take down the younger Temirov. With an impressive 18-2 combined professional record in submission and decision finishes, Almabayev will likely be looking to take his time and use the ground game to his advantage, particularly when his opponent's perfect 11-0 record in KO/TKO finishes is taken into account.
Almabayev will head into the fight looking to bounce back after a TKO defeat at the hands of Manel Kape in his most recent bout. The 5-foot-4 fighter from Kazakhstan will look to use a slight reach advantage to take down the younger Temirov. With an impressive 18-2 combined professional record in submission and decision finishes, Almabayev will likely be looking to take his time and use the ground game to his advantage, particularly when his opponent's perfect 11-0 record in KO/TKO finishes is taken into account.
Tough break in main-event loss
Almabayev lost to Manel Kape via TKO (punches) at 2:16 of Round 3 at UFC Vegas 103 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Almabayev may have deserved a better fate here despite entering the determining Round 3 likely down 2-0 on the scorecards. He was competitive in those frames and even won the significant striking battle in Round 2, though Kape's blows were likely more consequential. In any case, Round 3 is where the controversy started. Kape grazed the eyes of Almabayev not once, but twice, in a move with extended fingers that some could interpret as intentional. That led to a sequence of unanswered strikes from Kape and Almabayev retreating across the cage to escape. Referee Mike Beltran then called the fight off as Almabayev proceeded to shoot a double-leg takedown, so he clearly wasn't finished. It's a tough break for Almabayev, as the 31-year-old takes his first loss with the UFC. The days of him affecting the 125-pound title picture may not be entirely over, however.
Almabayev may have deserved a better fate here despite entering the determining Round 3 likely down 2-0 on the scorecards. He was competitive in those frames and even won the significant striking battle in Round 2, though Kape's blows were likely more consequential. In any case, Round 3 is where the controversy started. Kape grazed the eyes of Almabayev not once, but twice, in a move with extended fingers that some could interpret as intentional. That led to a sequence of unanswered strikes from Kape and Almabayev retreating across the cage to escape. Referee Mike Beltran then called the fight off as Almabayev proceeded to shoot a double-leg takedown, so he clearly wasn't finished. It's a tough break for Almabayev, as the 31-year-old takes his first loss with the UFC. The days of him affecting the 125-pound title picture may not be entirely over, however.
New opponent scheduled
Almabayev is scheduled to compete against Manel Kape in a flyweight fight at UFC Vegas 103 on March 1, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Almabayev was scheduled to fight Allan Nascimento at UFC Vegas 103. Both fighters remain healthy, but the bout will no longer happen because the aforementioned event needs a new headliner. It was supposed to be Kape against Brandon Royval, who cannot compete due to an injury. Kape is just off the top five in the UFC's flyweight rankings, so a win over him could significantly boost Almabayev, who is ranked No. 8. He will have his work cut out for him though, as Kape's momentum is high after a December TKO to Bruno Silva.
Almabayev was scheduled to fight Allan Nascimento at UFC Vegas 103. Both fighters remain healthy, but the bout will no longer happen because the aforementioned event needs a new headliner. It was supposed to be Kape against Brandon Royval, who cannot compete due to an injury. Kape is just off the top five in the UFC's flyweight rankings, so a win over him could significantly boost Almabayev, who is ranked No. 8. He will have his work cut out for him though, as Kape's momentum is high after a December TKO to Bruno Silva.
Gets new opponent
Almabayev will now take on Allan Nascimento in a flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 103 on March 1st, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Almabayev will no longer face Steve Erceg, who is out for undisclosed reasons. His new opponent, Nascimento, is 2-1 in the promotion and coming off two straight victories. Nascimento has four inches of both height and reach on his opponent Almabayev.
Almabayev will no longer face Steve Erceg, who is out for undisclosed reasons. His new opponent, Nascimento, is 2-1 in the promotion and coming off two straight victories. Nascimento has four inches of both height and reach on his opponent Almabayev.