Yesterday information appeared that Kazakh flyweight fighter Asu Almabaev (19-2) will enter the UFC ring for the third time. His opponent will be American Jose Johnson (16-8), and the fight is scheduled for June 15.

Asu previously won twice in the UFC: he defeated Jamaican athlete Audie Osborne via submission and defeated American CJ Vergara by unanimous decision.

A well-known expert in the world of mixed martial arts, journalist from Eurosport Nederland and editor of Tapology.com, Marcel Dorff, in a conversation with the republican Internet portal Sports.kz, shared his opinion about the upcoming fight of Asu Almabaev and made a forecast for the result of the fight.

— Marcel, how do you assess the level of your future opponent Asu Almabaev?
— This lightweight fighter is a newcomer to the flyweight category. Johnson has a strong punch and good wrestling, but not at the level of Almabayev.

— How popular is Jose Johnson in the world of martial arts?
— He is relatively little known among ordinary fans. He still has a lot to prove.

— Was a more serious rivalry expected for the Kazakhstani at the next fight?
— Perhaps, but Asu is in no hurry. He is young and can gradually rise.

— What is the danger of Jose Johnson?
— He is dangerous in the standup, but I think Almabaev can beat him.

—What are the chances of success in this fight?
—I believe that Asu will be able to finish the fight with a move. Johnson has problems defending takedowns, so he has little chance of winning.

— How will Almabaev benefit from a victory over such an opponent?
— If he wins convincingly, he may get the opportunity to fight a fighter from the top 15.

— What is your prediction for the result of the fight?
— I think that Almabaev will defeat Johnson by submission in the first or second round.