Asu Almabayev’s Late Knockdown Secured the Nicolau Decision
Asu Almabayev defeated Matheus Nicolau by unanimous decision in Las Vegas on October 19, 2024. All three judges scored their flyweight contest 29–28 after Almabayev’s final-round offense helped settle a competitive matchup at UFC APEX.
The action increased after a cautious opening
The first round was tactical, with both fighters taking time to find openings. They became busier in the second as Almabayev sought a takedown and Nicolau threatened with a choke.
Almabayev escaped the submission danger, and the fighters returned to standing exchanges before the round ended. The contest remained unresolved heading into the last five minutes.
A knockdown changed the final round
Almabayev dropped Nicolau early in the third and followed him to the ground in pursuit of a finish. Nicolau survived and threatened a leg attack before Almabayev established top position.
Nicolau continued trying to scramble free, but Almabayev regained control from above. The unanimous result moved the Kazakh fighter’s record to twenty-one wins against two defeats.
The win extended his UFC start
Almabayev’s earlier UFC victories had come against Ode’ Osbourne, CJ Vergara and Jose Johnson. The Nicolau decision made it four wins from his first four promotional appearances.
Manel Kape ended that UFC winning run with a third-round stoppage on March 1, 2025. Almabayev subsequently returned to winning with a decision over Jose Ochoa and submissions of Alex Perez and Charles Johnson, adding further results after the Nicolau breakthrough.
Sources
- UFC: fight sequence, unanimous decision and post-fight record
- UFC: official 29–28 scorecards
- UFC: initial four victories, Kape defeat and subsequent results
