Donte Johnson Loses Unbeaten Foe at UFC 334, Cesar Almeida Steps In

The prospect-vs-prospect matchup that made UFC 334 worth circling is gone. Baisangur Susurkaev, the 25-year-old middleweight who ran his record to 12-0 with a perfect 3-0 UFC start, has pulled out of his Nov. 14 booking against fellow undefeated fighter Donte Johnson at Madison Square Garden. No reason has been given for the withdrawal.

Johnson isn't losing his slot, though. Veteran kickboxer Cesar Almeida (7-3) has agreed to step in, keeping the 9-0 prospect on the New York card. Bout contracts still need to be signed, but the replacement is done.

What the UFC Loses

Susurkaev was one of the more electric additions from the 2025 Contender Series class. All 12 of his wins have come by stoppage — nine knockouts, two submissions — and he kept that pace inside the Octagon, finishing his first three UFC opponents by KO or submission. His last outing was a third-round rear-naked choke of Djorden Santos. Losing that kind of finisher against another unbeaten fighter stings for anyone who'd already booked the date.

Johnson's New Test

Johnson, also a 2025 Contender Series signee, has quietly stacked three UFC wins over Eric McConico, Cody Brundage, and Sedriques Dumas. Instead of a fellow 100-percent finisher, he now draws an opponent with more mileage and a very different profile. Almeida is a decorated striker, but his UFC results have been streaky.

That inconsistency is the whole story with Almeida. He announced himself with a first-round knockout of Abdul Razak Alhassan on debut — Alhassan's last fight, a punch-induced TKO in round one — then dropped two straight, most recently a KO loss to Damian Pinas at UFC 329. He arrives on a two-fight skid, facing a hungry, undefeated younger man.

For Johnson, the upside remains: beat a proven UFC striker and the 9-0 record keeps its shine. For Almeida, this is close to a must-win. Three losses in a row is a hard place to be in this division, and short-notice spots against unbeaten prospects rarely come with a safety net.