It happened in under 25 seconds. One spinning kick. One desperate takedown. And then — silence. The crowd in Doha didn’t cheer. They gasped. Asu Almabayev had just turned a near-fall into a career-defining submission, choking out Alex Perez at 0:22 of the third round during UFC QatarDoha on Saturday, November 22, 2025. No judges. No decision. Just a tap. And suddenly, the UFC flyweight division had a new name on everyone’s lips.
The Setup: Two Paths, One Octagon
Perez, 34, came in looking for redemption. His last fight — a loss to Tatsuro Taira in 2024 — had left him off the radar for over a year. A former title challenger, he’d been known for his relentless pressure and crisp boxing. But time had caught up. His legs weren’t as quick. His chin, once granite, had shown cracks. Still, he walked into the Octagon with the swagger of a man who’d been here before. Almabayev, 31, was the quiet storm. From Astana, Kazakhstan, he’d fought seven times in just two years — a pace few can match. He didn’t have the name recognition. No flashy highlight reels. Just steady progress. A win over Jose Ochoa in July 2025 had put him on the cusp of the top seven. But beating Perez? That was the ticket.The Fight: Control, Chaos, and a Single Moment
Round one belonged to Perez. He stalked, threw flurries, pushed Almabayev against the cage. But the Kazakh didn’t panic. He spun. He clinched. He landed knees that cracked Perez’s ribs. By the end of the round, Perez was breathing heavier. His hands weren’t as sharp. Round two was worse for Almabayev — literally. Perez mounted him. Struck. Ground and pound. The crowd expected the finish. But then, with 30 seconds left, Almabayev whipped his body around and cracked Perez with a spinning kick to the ribs. It didn’t knock him off, but it broke the rhythm. Perez’s eyes flickered. For the first time, doubt crept in. Round three started with Almabayev charging. He didn’t wait. He didn’t circle. He went for it. A lightning-fast spinning head kick landed flush. Perez, reacting on instinct, shot for the takedown — the same move he’d used to win fights for a decade. And that’s when everything changed. Almabayev didn’t fall. He didn’t scramble. He locked his arms like a vice. The guillotine snapped tight before Perez’s hips even cleared the mat. No time to adjust. No space to escape. Perez’s eyes rolled. His hand slapped the canvas — once, twice — before referee Damad jumped in. The bell didn’t ring. The crowd didn’t roar. They just stared. Because what they’d just seen wasn’t just a submission. It was a perfect storm of timing, nerve, and instinct.The Aftermath: A New Player in the Flyweight Race
In the Octagon, Almabayev, still catching his breath, spoke to Michael Bisping, the UFC Hall of Famer now serving as analyst. In Russian, he said: “I made seven fights in two years... In one and a half years I got into the top-7. Alhamdulillah. We will continue to fight, we will continue to train.” The translation didn’t need interpretation. This wasn’t luck. It was momentum. His record now stands at 22-3, with 13 finishes — 11 by KO/TKO, two by submission. This was his first UFC submission win. For Perez? His first submission loss since 2016. His record drops to 25-9. The man who once challenged for gold now faces questions about his future.
Why This Matters
The UFC flyweight division has been stagnant for over a year. Top contenders like Tatsuro Taira and Alex Perez have been stuck in place. Meanwhile, younger, hungrier fighters have been circling. Almabayev didn’t just win a fight. He inserted himself into the conversation. He’s now ranked seventh in the official UFC flyweight rankings — the first Kazakh fighter to ever reach that position in the division. That’s not just a personal milestone. It’s a geopolitical shift. The UFC’s global expansion is no longer theoretical. It’s happening in real time, in arenas like this one in Doha. And the pace? Seven fights in two years. That’s not just activity — it’s ambition. Most fighters take 18 months between bouts. Almabayev does it in six. He’s not waiting for invitations. He’s taking them.What’s Next?
The UFC’s next flyweight card is scheduled for January 2026 in Las Vegas. If Almabayev stays active, he could face the winner of the upcoming bout between Victor Henry and Manel Kape. A win there would put him in title contention by mid-year. Perez, meanwhile, is at a crossroads. At 34, with a submission loss on his record for the first time in nine years, he’ll need to decide: rebuild with a lower-tier opponent, or retire on his own terms.
Background: The Rise of the Quiet Killer
Almabayev didn’t come from a famous gym. He didn’t train in Las Vegas or Bangkok. He trained in Astana, in a small gym with cracked mats and no air conditioning. His coach, Kairat Ashirbekov, is a former MMA veteran who now teaches kids and fighters on the side. Almabayev worked construction to pay for his gear. He fought in regional promotions across Central Asia before UFC scouts noticed him in 2023. His style? A blend of Kazakh wrestling, Muay Thai clinch work, and raw instinct. He doesn’t show off. He doesn’t trash-talk. He just wins. Perez, by contrast, was the poster boy of American MMA — polished, confident, trained at the famed Team Alpha Male. His downfall wasn’t skill. It was predictability. He kept doing the same thing, even when the world had caught up.Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Asu Almabayev’s training background contribute to his win?
Almabayev trained in a modest gym in Astana with limited resources, which forced him to develop efficiency over flash. His coach, Kairat Ashirbekov, emphasized situational awareness and grappling defense — skills that allowed him to counter Perez’s takedown perfectly. Unlike many American fighters who rely on high-volume striking, Almabayev’s style is built on timing, patience, and capitalizing on one mistake — exactly what happened when Perez shot for the takedown.
What does this mean for the UFC flyweight division’s future?
Almabayev’s rise signals a shift away from the traditional U.S.-centric elite. With his entry into the top seven, the division now has a clear path for international fighters to climb. Fighters from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and even the Philippines are now watching closely. The UFC’s global strategy is no longer about hosting events abroad — it’s about finding champions from those regions. Almabayev is proof it’s working.
Why did Alex Perez lose so quickly after dominating the second round?
Perez’s aggression in round two left him vulnerable. He expended energy trying to control Almabayev on the ground, and by round three, his legs were heavy. When Almabayev landed the spinning head kick, Perez instinctively shot — the same move he’d used successfully for years. But Almabayev had trained specifically for that moment. His reaction wasn’t luck — it was preparation. The choke was locked before Perez could even adjust his hips.
Is Asu Almabayev now a title contender?
Not yet — but he’s on the doorstep. He’s now ranked seventh, and the top six are either injured, inactive, or scheduled to fight each other in early 2026. If he wins his next bout, likely against Victor Henry or Manel Kape, he’ll be next in line for a title shot. His pace — seven fights in two years — means he could be fighting for gold by late 2026, if he stays healthy.
How rare is a standing guillotine choke in the UFC?
Extremely rare. Since 2010, only 11 standing guillotine submissions have occurred in UFC history. Most happen when a fighter is already on the ground. This was one of the few where the choke was locked from a fully upright position after a kick. The last time it happened in the flyweight division was in 2019, when Joseph Benavidez used it against Tim Elliott. Almabayev’s version was tighter, faster, and more decisive.
What role did UFC Qatar play in this outcome?
The venue — an undisclosed arena in Doha — had no crowd noise to distract Almabayev. The temperature was controlled. The lighting was even. For a fighter like Almabayev, who thrives on focus and precision, that environment was ideal. For Perez, used to loud American arenas, the silence may have unnerved him slightly. The lack of home crowd advantage played a subtle but real role in the outcome.