Asu Almabayev

Asu Almabayev, known by the nickname "Zulfikar," is a Kazakhstani mixed martial artist competing in the flyweight division of the UFC. Born in the village of Janatalap in Kazakhstan's Sarysu District, he began wrestling at age five before branching into karate, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, going on to earn recognition as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion of Kazakhstan and Asia.

Almabayev turned to mixed martial arts after discovering the sport on television, and built his career fighting out of Almaty for DAR Pro Team. Before joining the UFC, he compiled an extensive record across regional promotions including M-1 Global, Brave Combat Federation, Fight Nights Global, and the Absolute Championship Berkut, capturing the interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship and picking up notable wins over experienced opposition such as Chris Kelades and Zach Makovsky.

A wrestling-based grappler, Almabayev fights with a relentless, grapple-heavy approach, pressuring forward on the feet before chaining takedowns and hunting for submissions once the fight hits the mat. High-volume takedowns and heavy control time have been hallmarks of his Octagon appearances, backed by a dangerous choke-based submission game.

He made his UFC debut in August 2023, finishing veteran Ode Osbourne by rear-naked choke in the second round. He followed that with a lopsided decision over CJ Vergara built on a heavy diet of takedowns, a unanimous decision over former flyweight title challenger Matheus Nicolau, and a highlight-reel standing guillotine choke finish of Alex Perez at UFC Fight Night in Qatar.

Representing one of Central Asia's smaller but increasingly prominent MMA scenes, Almabayev has carried Kazakhstan's deep wrestling tradition into the UFC flyweight division, building a reputation as a durable, submission-savvy grinder among the sport's toughest 125-pound competitors.