Almabayev rebounded from his loss to Manel Kape with victories over Jose Ochoa and Alex Perez, the latter ending in a spectacular guillotine choke submission.
Johnson, meanwhile, has quietly become one of the division’s most active fighters. He has won five of his last six bouts and continues to push for a crack at the top 10.
Asu Almabayev
Last 3 bouts
Win. Alex Perez – Submission (Guillotine Choke, Round 3)
Win. Jose Ochoa – Unanimous Decision
Lose. Manel Kape – TKO (Round 3)
Strengths
Excellent wrestling and takedown game
Strong submission skills
High work rate and cardio
Effective top control
Difficult to keep off opponents once he closes distance
Proven ability to win rounds consistently
Weaknesses
Gives up significant height and reach against many opponents
Striking remains secondary to his grappling
Can be vulnerable when forced into prolonged stand-up battles
Was stopped by Manel Kape when unable to consistently secure control
Keys to victory
Close the distance early
Force Johnson to defend takedowns repeatedly
Control position against the fence
Avoid extended striking exchanges at range
Turn the fight into a grappling battle
Charles Johnson
Last 3 bouts
Win. Joshua Van – KO/TKO
Lose. Ramazan Temirov – Decision
Win. Sumudaerji – TKO
Strengths
Significant height and reach advantage
High striking output
Excellent conditioning
Strong takedown defense
Constant activity and experience
Dangerous late in fights when opponents slow down
Weaknesses
Can be controlled by strong wrestlers
Sometimes starts slowly
Has struggled against elite grapplers
Leaves openings during high-volume exchanges
Keys to victory
Keep the fight standing
Use his five-inch height and reach advantage
Stuff early takedown attempts
Force Almabayev to strike from distance
Increase volume as the fight progresses
Odds
Charles Johnson +220
Asu Almabayev -270
