TLDR
- Alex Perez (25-9) faces Asu Almabayev (22-3) at UFC Qatar on November 22, 2025
- Perez returns after 18 months out due to a knee injury suffered against Tatsuro Taira
- Almabayev is the betting favorite at -180, with Perez as the underdog at +155
- Both fighters are 125-pound flyweights with 65-inch reaches
- Perez has gone 1-4 in his last five fights while Almabayev is 5-1 in the UFC
Alex Perez will return to the octagon after an 18-month layoff to face Asu Almabayev at UFC Qatar. The event takes place Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar.
Perez, 33, carries a record of 25-9 and has struggled recently with a 1-4 record in his last five fights. All four losses came against top-five ranked opponents. His most recent fight was against Tatsuro Taira in June 2024, where he suffered a severe knee injury that forced a stoppage in the second round.
The California fighter stands 5’6″ and competes in the flyweight division at 125 pounds. He lands 4.19 strikes per minute with 46% accuracy. His takedown success rate sits at 46%, completing 2.04 takedowns per three rounds.
Almabayev enters the fight as the betting favorite at -180. The 31-year-old from Kazakhstan holds a 22-3 record overall and 5-1 in the UFC. He stands 5’4″ with the same 65-inch reach as Perez.
The Kazakh fighter lands 2.16 strikes per minute but connects at a higher 54% accuracy rate. He absorbs fewer strikes than Perez, taking only 1.75 significant strikes per minute compared to Perez’s 3.20. His takedown success rate is 43% with a 50% takedown defense rate.
Fighting Styles and Approach
Perez fights as an orthodox striker with well-rounded offensive skills. He mixes solid boxing with good leg kicks and an aggressive grappling style. His scramble-oriented approach makes him dangerous on the ground but can also put him in risky positions.
Almabayev employs a wrestle-boxer style common among Central Asian fighters. He uses low kicks and boxing combinations to set up his takedown attempts. Once on the ground, he works relentlessly to pass guard or take his opponent’s back, where he can apply his strong submission game.
In his last fight, Almabayev defeated Jose Ochoa by unanimous decision in round three. He landed 52% of his strikes, connecting on 22 of 42 significant strikes. Ochoa landed 118 of 151 total strikes in that contest.
Recent Form and Injuries
Perez’s career trajectory changed after his first-round submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in a title fight. Since joining the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017, he started strong with a 6-1 record. His upcoming fight will be just his fifth in five years.
The knee injury against Taira occurred in round two after Perez had landed 45 of 81 total strikes. Taira connected on 43 of 78 strikes before the injury stoppage. This marks Perez’s third injury layoff of a year or more during this period.
Almabayev’s average fight time of 13:25 is much longer than Perez’s 6:47. He attempts 1.5 submissions per three rounds compared to Perez’s 0.8 attempts. His striking defense is 52% while Perez defends 58% of strikes directed at him.
Perez opened as a +155 underdog with Almabayev at -180 odds.
