Asu Almabayev

BIOGRAPHY

Asu Abayuly Almabaev was born on January 25, 1994, in Zhantalap, Kazakhstan. Since his early childhood, he engaged in the national struggle, also known as Kazakh wrestling. At a young age, Almabaev’s family relocated to the city of Almaty, where he began training in other sports disciplines such as boxing, karate, hand-to-hand combat, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Eventually, he discovered his passion for mixed martial arts (MMA).

While living in Almaty, the ten-year-old Almabaev worked at the Altyn-Orda market where his parents ran a small stand. He continued working at the market into his early twenties, until he decided to pursue a professional sports career. Almabaev was colloquially known as “Bratan”, a nickname given to him by a friend. He also went by “Tornado”. However, after reading a book that mentioned Zulfiqar – the sword of the prophet Muhammad – he decided to adopt it as his own nickname.

By the age of 22, Almabaev was already a prominent fighter. He won the international grand prix “Alash Pride Selection” in the 61 kg weight class. On June 1, 2013, Almabaev made his professional MMA debut in Moscow at the Rod Fighting – Shield and Sword 4: Russia vs. Kazakhstan tournament. The fight against Russian Vadim Buseev proved difficult, but Almabaev prevailed, winning by unanimous decision.

In 2016, Almabaev secured an early victory at the “Southern Front-3” tournament in Krasnodar. In the 57 kg weight class, he faced Oleg Eric. The fight ended in the first round. A month later, Almabaev had another spectacular fight against Galamirza Ayvazov in Ufa. Demonstrating his strategic thinking and physical prowess, Almabaev managed to catch his rival on the pain, ending the match 3 minutes 41 seconds into the first round.

Owing to these encounters, Almabaev began attracting attention as a promising fighter, and the Russian MMA organization Fight Nights offered him a partnership, opening new opportunities in the world of mixed martial arts. In 2017, Almabaev left his market job and focused solely on training. By December 2018, he began competing in the M-1 league, sharing a fight card with Shavkat Rakhmonov and Hadis Ibragimov.

Almabaev’s success continued into 2019. At the M-1 Challenge 105, he defeated Canadian Chris Kelades to become the lightweight champion. A year later, Almabaev claimed the NFC belt in the lightweight division by defeating fellow Kazakh Darhan Skakov at the Naiza Fighter Championship 27 in Almaty. He scored the victory using a rear-naked choke hold.

In 2021, Almabaev signed a contract with the largest MMA promotion in the Middle East, BRAVE Combat Federation. Throughout the following fifteen months, he marked four victories in Brave CF and executed the best submission. Almabaev’s excellent performance earned him the designation of Brave CF Fighter of the Year for 2022.

Despite being offered a title fight and a new contract, Almabaev decided to pursue a more exciting prospect – to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In April 2023, he officially signed a contract with the UFC. His first opponent in the world’s top promotion was Jamaican-born Ode Osbourne. The two squared off at UFC on ESPN 50 in Nashville on August 5, 2023. Almabaev dominated the fight, demonstrating excellent technique and skill both on the ground and in stand-up. Despite Osbourne’s strength and agility, he submitted under Almabaev’s choke hold during the second round.

Following the tournament, five fighters received $50,000 bonuses for their outstanding performances, including Almabaev. This marked the beginning of his exciting journey in the UFC, where he continues to showcase his world-class mastery in the sport of mixed martial arts.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Who Is Assu Almabayev?
Assu Almabayev is a flyweight division fighter in UFC, who is on a 13-fight winning streak and currently ranked as the No. 1 flyweight in Asia Central, Kazakhstan, and the Middle East, as of August 4, 2023, according to Tapology.

What Is Assu Almabayev's Record?
The record of Assu Almabayev in UFC is currently unknown.

Who Is Asu Almabaev?
The identity of Asu Almabaev or Assu Almabayev is unknown in the context of UFC.