This Saturday, March 1, the UFC returns to Las Vegas Apex with an event that will be headed by the flyweight fight between Manel Kape and Asurayayev. Initially, the star fight was supposed to feature Kape and Brandon Royval, while Albayev was set to face Steve Erceg. However, a Royval injury led to a series of changes, resulting in Erceg facing Brandon Moreno in the UFC Mexico, and Albayev taking on Manel Kape in the star fight of this weekend. Despite not being a well-known name, Almabayev is one of the top prospects in the flyweight division, with a remarkable story that adds value to his achievements.
The Kazakh fighter started training in combat at the age of five, eventually combining this discipline with other contact sports like karate. Raised by his grandparents during his early years, Almabayev helped out in a small store his parents owned in a market until he was 23, all while forging a career in fighting. His beginnings were tough, with two losses after four consecutive wins in his first four professional fights, which raised doubts about his future. Nevertheless, Asu didn’t lose again, establishing a 17-fight winning streak that led him to occupy the number eight spot in the UFC flyweight ranking.
Before catching the attention of Dana White and UFC scouts, Almabayev accumulated 13 consecutive wins, which ultimately led to him signing a contract in 2023. After submitting Ode’Osborne in his debut, 2024 became his year of consecration. He defeated CJ Vergara in March, José Johnson in June, and finally, the UFC put him up against his first ranked opponent, Matheus Nicolau, in October. Almabayev responded with authority, winning and breaking into the Top 10 of the division. His next challenge will be Manel Kape, a great striker who occupies the number six spot in the rankings, and it will be interesting to see if Almabayev can overcome his talent in the fight and on the ground.
Tagir Ulanbekov, on the prowl
Another significant name to consider in the flyweight division is Tagir Ulanbekov, with a record of 16-2. In UFC 311 last January, the Russian won against Clayton Carpenter, taking the number 11 spot in the ranking. Interestingly, Ulanbekov, a partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s gym, was the first to defeat Asurayev, knocking him out in 2017 in the Fight Nights Global company. However, Ulanbekov does have a defeat in the UFC, which has slowed down his promotion in the company compared to Asurayev. The three positions that separate them could lead to a potential future rematch, as the division needs rivalries.
For now, Almabayev will face Manel Kape, a dangerous opponent coming off a great performance against Bruno Silva. In fact, there was talk about the possibility of the Portuguese fighting for the title. As a result, the UFC set up a fight between Kape and Brandon Royval, the number one ranked fighter in the division. If Kape wins, he would be granted the opportunity to fight for the title, solidifying his status as the next contender for the belt.