Bekzat Almakhan will face Jean Matsumoto at UFC Baku on June 27. Almakhan currently holds a 1-2 record in the UFC, while Matsumoto stands at 3-2 in the promotion. The bout was announced via Almakhan's social media accounts. Both fighters will be looking to improve their standing within the UFC roster. The matchup represents an opportunity for Almakhan to turn around his current losing record in the organization.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto have been booked to meet at UFC Baku on June 27, with the matchup announced through Almakhan's social media channels.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," enters the fight carrying a 1-2 record inside the UFC from an overall professional mark of 12-4. The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of Triumph Fights and competes as an orthodox striker standing five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. His UFC output has been measured, averaging 1.61 significant strikes landed per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate, and he has not yet registered a takedown attempt across his promotional appearances.
Matsumoto brings a sharply contrasting profile to the matchup. The 26-year-old Brazilian out of Inside MMA holds a 3-2 UFC record and an impressive overall mark of 18-2. Standing five-foot-six with a matching 68-inch reach, he is one of the more active strikers in his division, averaging 5.37 significant strikes landed per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also contributes on the ground, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a genuinely multi-dimensional threat.
Why it matters
- Almakhan needs a victory to avoid falling deeper into negative UFC territory at 1-3, raising the pressure on his promotional future.
- Matsumoto, already at 3-2, could strengthen his case for a ranking or a higher-profile assignment with a fourth UFC win.
- The stylistic contrast is notable — Almakhan's conservative output meets one of the more high-volume strikers in the division, and Matsumoto's takedown activity adds a second dimension Almakhan has not consistently had to manage in his UFC run.
- UFC Baku represents a growing international card where roster spots and visibility are both on the line for fighters in the mid-tier of their divisions.
