Assu Almabayev Bio
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev, born on January 25, 1994, is a Kazakh professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fighting under the ring name Zulfikar, he has built a reputation as a well-rounded finisher, with much of his success coming through submission grappling. As of late 2025, Almabayev is ranked among the top contenders in the UFC flyweight division and represents the DAR Pro Team out of Almaty, Kazakhstan.
A professional since 2013, Almabayev has competed across several major promotions before reaching the UFC roster, including M-1 Global, where he captured the Interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship. With a record that includes multiple submission victories and a high finish rate, he has become one of the most recognizable Kazakh fighters on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev was born on January 25, 1994, in the small village of Janatalap in the Sarysu District of the Jambyl Region of Kazakhstan. He was raised by his grandparents until the age of ten, growing up in a rural setting that encouraged physical activity and discipline. At the age of five, he began training in wrestling, which laid the foundation for his later combat sports career.
While in the fifth grade, Almabayev moved with his family to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, where he was exposed to a wider range of martial arts. In Almaty, he trained in karate, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, eventually winning championships at both the national and Asian levels in BJJ. During this period, he also worked at a market where his parents operated a small shop, balancing training and labor until the age of 23.
Path to MMA
Almabayev’s transition to mixed martial arts came after he watched the sport on television while studying in college. Inspired by what he saw, he chose to focus his martial arts background into the emerging sport of MMA, joining regional promotions to gain experience. His early training in wrestling, striking, and BJJ provided a balanced base that allowed him to compete effectively across multiple areas of the sport.
Assu Almabayev Career
Early Career (2013–2018)
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev made his professional MMA debut on June 1, 2013, against Vadim Buseev at Rod Fighting: Shield and Sword 4, winning the bout by unanimous decision. Following a three-year layoff, he returned in 2016 and earned three consecutive victories across Alash Pride FC, Tech-Krep FC, and Fight Nights Global, signaling his return to active competition.
In 2017, Almabayev suffered his first two professional defeats, both by decision, including a loss to current UFC fighter Tagir Ulanbekov at Fight Nights Global 58. He rebounded strongly afterward, putting together a thirteen-fight winning streak across ACB, Alash Pride, Fight Nights Global, Naiza, M-1 Global, and Brave Combat Federation, which established him as a top-tier flyweight outside the UFC.
M-1 Global Championship (2019)
Almabayev faced Chris Kelades on October 19, 2019, at M-1 Challenge 105 for the Interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship. He won the bout via unanimous decision, capturing a major international title and solidifying his reputation as one of the best flyweights competing outside major Western promotions at the time.
Brave Combat Federation (2021–2022)
Almabayev made his Brave Combat Federation debut on August 21, 2021, against Aleksander Doskalchuk at Brave CF 53, winning via rear-naked choke submission in the second round. He continued his success with the promotion, defeating Imram Magaramov by unanimous decision at Brave CF 57 and Zach Makovsky by split decision at Brave CF 60.
On November 26, 2022, at Brave CF 66, Almabayev submitted Kenneth Maningat via rear-naked choke in the second round, extending his run with the Bahrain-based organization. His consistent performances across Brave CF helped maintain his ranking among top flyweight prospects globally.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2023–Present)
Almabayev made his UFC debut on August 5, 2023, against Ode’ Osbourne at UFC on ESPN 50, winning by rear-naked choke submission in the second round and earning the Performance of the Night award. He followed this with three consecutive unanimous decision wins over C.J. Vergara at UFC 299, Jose Johnson at UFC on ESPN 58, and Matheus Nicolau at UFC Fight Night 245 in October 2024.
On March 1, 2025, Almabayev faced Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Fight Night 253 after a reshuffling of the card. The fight ended in a third-round technical knockout loss for Almabayev following an unpunished eye poke that disrupted his performance. He rebounded on July 26, 2025, at UFC on ABC 9, defeating replacement opponent Jose Ochoa by unanimous decision after Ramazan Temirov withdrew due to a failed drug test.
On November 22, 2025, Almabayev faced former title challenger Alex Perez at UFC Fight Night 265, winning via guillotine choke submission in the third round. The victory reinforced his place inside the UFC flyweight top ten and marked his return to the win column in decisive fashion.
Driving Style and Strengths
Almabayev is an orthodox-stance fighter known for his strong grappling base, developed through years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition. His record reflects a heavy reliance on submissions, particularly rear-naked chokes and guillotines, and he has shown the ability to grind out decisions when finishes are not available. Training out of the DAR Pro Team in Almaty, he combines disciplined wrestling with increasingly polished striking.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Almabayev’s most notable achievements are his Interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship win in 2019 and his UFC debut Performance of the Night bonus in 2023. His 2025 victory over former title challenger Alex Perez stands as one of the most significant wins of his UFC career to date.
Assu Almabayev Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Asu Abaiuly Almabayev has accumulated victories across multiple major promotions, including M-1 Global, Brave Combat Federation, and the UFC. His win portfolio is highlighted by a high submission count, with most of his finishes coming by way of rear-naked choke and other grappling-based techniques.
UFC Highlights
Since joining the UFC in 2023, Almabayev has earned multiple victories, including a Performance of the Night-winning submission of Ode’ Osbourne in his debut. He has also recorded decision wins over C.J. Vergara, Jose Johnson, Matheus Nicolau, and Jose Ochoa, and a third-round guillotine choke submission of Alex Perez in November 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Almabayev captured the Interim M-1 Global Flyweight Championship in 2019 and posted an undefeated run through Brave Combat Federation, defeating four consecutive opponents. Earlier in his career, he won regional titles in Kazakhstan and Asia in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Assu Almabayev Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev was raised in the village of Janatalap in southern Kazakhstan before relocating to Almaty with his family during his school years. He is known to be close to his family, and his parents operated a small shop at a local market where he worked during his early training years. Almabayev currently resides in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he trains with the DAR Pro Team.
2025 Season Performance
Asu Abaiuly Almabayev’s 2025 campaign began with a difficult main-event assignment against Manel Kape at UFC Fight Night 253, where he suffered a third-round technical knockout loss after a disputed eye poke. The setback was a major storyline of his year, but Almabayev responded professionally by returning to training and securing his next booking.
His second appearance of 2025 came at UFC on ABC 9, where a late opponent change saw him face Jose Ochoa on short notice. Almabayev dominated the bout and earned a unanimous decision victory, reestablishing momentum in the flyweight division and reminding the rankings panel of his consistency.
Almabayev closed the year on November 22, 2025, with a statement third-round guillotine choke submission of Alex Perez at UFC Fight Night 265, a result that pushed him back into the flyweight top ten. With the win, he enters 2026 firmly in the contender conversation and positioned for a potential high-profile booking in the division.