Asu Almabayev simply needs one shot at UFC flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja after win over Matheus Nicolau

by Christina S. Brown
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LAS VEGAS – Asu Almabayev beat Matheus Nicolau with a unanimous choice Saturday to shut out the preliminary card at UFC Battle Night time 245 on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Have a look contained in the combat with Almabayev, who gained for the seventeenth straight time.

Asu Almabayev def. Matheus Nicolau

Asu Almabayev

Consequence: Asu Almabayev def. Matheus Nicolau by way of unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Up to date information: Almabayev (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Nicolau (19-6-1 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Key stats: Almabayev has had greater than 26 minutes of whole management time over the 45 minutes of his previous three choice wins. However after touchdown 15 mixed takedowns his previous two fights, he had only one towards Nicolau.

Almabayev on the combat’s key second

Asu Almabayev def. Matheus Nicolau, UFC Battle Night time 245 (by way of UFC)

“I’m joyful. It’s not simple to win the combat. Each opponent’s doing onerous work and coming right here to combat and to win, so I’m very joyful that I gained. (The sport plan) was simply to win. I needed to wrestle, however (Nicolau) is hard – he’s No. 7 within the rankings. In the course of the combat, I modified the sport plan somewhat.”

Almabayev on Nicoalu’s takedown protection

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 19: (L-R) Matheus Nicolau of Brazil punches Asu Almabayev of Kazakstan in a flyweight combat in the course of the UFC Battle Night time occasion at UFC APEX on October 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I used to be not shocked (at his takedown protection) as a result of each fighter is aware of that I’ll attempt to take them down. After the primary and second, I noticed that (he was good at stopping me). What can I do? So I attempted to enhance the positions on a regular basis.”

Almabayev on what he needs subsequent

Could 4, 2024; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; Alexandre Pantoja (purple gloves) fights towards Steve Erceg (blue gloves) throughout UFC 301 at Rio Area. Obligatory Credit score: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports activities

“I’ll come again residence and we’ll watch the combat once more. We have to study on a regular basis. Give me one likelihood for the belt (towards champion Alexandre Pantoja).”

To listen to extra from Almabayev, take a look at the video of the complete post-fight interview above.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Battle Night time 245.

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