UFC Vegas 93: Perez vs. Taira is live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas as we bring you another betting prediction and pick for the next Main Card bout taking place in the Flyweight (125) Division. Kazakhstan’s newest fighter Asu Almabayev will take on Contender Series alum Jose Johnson as the Main Card heats up on ESPN+. Check out our UFC odds series for our Almabayev-Johnson prediction and pick.

Asu Almabayev (19-2) has gone 2-0 through his first UFC fights since last year. With the wins, he extended an active 15-fight winning streak that includes nine finishes. He’s proved his worth thus far and will come in as the heavy betting favorite once again, looking to stay perfect through this impressive run. Almabayev stands 5’4″ with a 65-inch reach.

Jose Johnson (16-8) has gone 1-1 through his first two UFC fights in 2023. He was a winner on Dana White’s Contender Series and notched his first UFC win last fight with a submission over Chad Anheliger. Now, he has a chance to take down a hyped prospect and make his own mark with an upset win. Jonson stands 6’0″ with a 72.5-inch reach.

Here are the UFC Vegas 93 Odds, courtesy of BetOnline. 

UFC Vegas 93 Odds: Asu Almabayev-Jose Johnson Odds

Asu Almabayev: -600

Jose Johnson: +425

Over 1.5 rounds: -200

Under 1.5 rounds: +160

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Why Asu Almabayev Will Win

Asu Almabayev is riding one of the more impressive active winning streaks in the sport today and he hasn’t lost a fight since 2017. He’s a terrifying grappler with a similar game to that of Khabib or Islam Makhachev. He smothers opponents quickly with his physical takedowns and does a tremendous job of transitioning into advantageous positions. Nine of his wins have come by way of submission and he favors the rear-naked choke. His squeeze is superior to many other grapplers in this division and if he can continue making the competition look easy, he could be in-line for a title shot sooner than later.

Asu Almabayev will be working with a small size discrepancy here, but he’s used to being the smaller man in the cage at just 5’4″. Still, he gets very low on his takedowns and loves to use tripping techniques to get taller fighters down and on their backs. While his striking isn’t near what his wrestling is, he’s fully capable of dodging punches and using strikes to advance the takedown. Still, don’t expect it to be longer before he takes a shot and gets this on the ground.

Why Jose Johnson Will Win

Jose Johnson got his start as a Muay Thai fighter and has an extensive amateur MMA and kickboxing career dating back to 2013. While he’s relatively new to the UFC, he’s been at this game for a long time and has a wealth of experience to work with. At six feet tall, he’s massive for the flyweight division and his reach instantly becomes a problem for any opponent. His long legs allow for him to snap leg kicks at a fast clip and he’ll have to land a few to deter Almabayev from seeking the takedown.

We’ve seen Jose Johnson struggle on the ground against fighters like Da’Mon Blackshear and he can’t allow himself to get caught in another compromising position during this one. With just a 36% takedown defense, his numbers will have to drastically improve if he wants to stand a chance as the underdog. In trying to stay on his feet, Johnson will also have to be weary of his opponent catching his kicks when he throws them.

Final Asu Almabayev-Jose Johnson Prediction & Pick

Both fighters are early into their UFC careers, but they also possess two lengthy careers in MMA that have seen their fair share of fights. Asu Almabayev hasn’t lost since 2017 and rides a 15-fight winning streak heading into this one. He’s the rightful favorite and he’ll look to make yet another UFC fight look easy as he blazes towards the Flyweight title.

Jose Johnson is a seasoned kickboxer and has a chance to make this fight interesting if he’s able to stand tall and deter Almabayev from chasing takedowns. He has very crisp leg kicks and he could have success landing if he stays at range and controls the striking distance.

For our prediction, we have to ride with Asu Almabayev to pick up his 16th consecutive win. He’s on a crazy run right now and he’ll continue disposing of competition until he faces a ranked fighter. Expect him to take this fight to the ground and go to work, eventually landing enough ground-and-pound to where he can sink a submission.

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Final Asu Almabayev-Jose Johnson Prediction & Pick: Asu Almabayev (-600); Under 1.5 Rounds (+160)