Bekzat Almakhan will face Jean Matsumoto at UFC Baku on June 27. Almakhan holds a 1-2 record in the UFC, while Matsumoto comes in with a 3-2 UFC record. The fight announcement was shared on Almakhan's social media accounts. This bout represents an important opportunity for both fighters to improve their standings within the promotion.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto have been booked to meet at UFC Baku on June 27, with the announcement coming through Almakhan's social media channels.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," enters the contest carrying a 12-4-0 overall record and a 1-2 mark inside the UFC. The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of Triumph Fights and stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, he lands 1.61 significant strikes per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate, and has yet to record a takedown or submission attempt in his UFC appearances to date.
Matsumoto brings a sharper recent résumé, sitting at 18-2-0 overall with a 3-2 record in the promotion. The 26-year-old Brazilian, also orthodox and also carrying a 68-inch reach at five-foot-six, trains with Inside MMA. His output numbers are notably high — 5.37 significant strikes landed per minute at 39 percent accuracy — and he adds a grappling dimension with three takedowns per 15 minutes and half a submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Matsumoto's superior UFC record gives him an edge in standing, but Almakhan has a point to prove after back-to-back losses in the promotion.
- Both fighters share identical reach at 68 inches, making distance management a key technical factor in the matchup.
- A win for either man would provide meaningful momentum and a stronger case for a ranked opponent down the line.
- The bout adds another intriguing contest to an already notable card in Baku on June 27.
