Dark house UFC contender Asu Almabayev thinks win gets title shot

LAS VEGAS – Asu Almabayev will make history when he steps into the cage Saturday at the UFC Apex.

At UFC Fight Night 253, Almabayev (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will be the first main event representative of his home country of Kazakhstan when he takes on Manel Kape in an important flyweight bout.

“For me, it’s a huge honor. But the way our country works is that if there was anybody else sitting here in my place from Kazakhstan, we’d be rooting for him and be really happy for him,” Almabayev told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “The most important thing is to show hard work, to do your job in the octagon, and keep winning.”

Almabayev, 31, hopes to do his country proud in what could be a title eliminator bout. Kape (20-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was initially scheduled to face Brandon Royval, who withdrew due to injury.

While perhaps he doesn’t have the international name recognition or experience as some of his other divisional counterparts, Almabayev thinks a win over Kape would make him the obvious choice.

“You know when it comes to the title fights, it’s like I’m asking myself, ‘Why don’t I get this chance to fight for the title? Why isn’t it my turn?’ Because like you said, there was a debut guy that was fighting for a title,” Almabayev said. “There were guys in the top 10 that were fighting for it. There were all these different fighters that got a chance and all those fighters who got a chance, you see they lost. They got losses. I’m 4-0 in the UFC. I’m ready. I’m excited. If I get this chance to fight, I think it should be me and nobody else.”

Despite the elevated stakes and moment, Almabayev has no worry that the moment will get to him. He’s a 23-fight veteran, despite his relative newness in the UFC. He feels ready.

“Pressure? What pressure? Pressure is my last name,” Almabayev said. “I bring the pressure. So this is nothing new for me. Obviously, it’s the first time in the UFC. I’ve fought all over the world. I’ve fought in different organizations. I’ve fought in main events and big cards. This is something I’m built for. This is what I need.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 253.