Bekzat Almakhan, with a UFC record of 1-2, will fight Jean Matsumoto, who holds a 3-2 UFC record, on June 27 at UFC Baku. Almakhan announced the bout on his social media platforms. The fight offers both competitors a chance to improve their positions within the UFC roster. UFC Baku is scheduled for late June in Azerbaijan. The post includes a fan poll asking readers to predict the winner.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto are set to collide at UFC Baku on June 27, with Almakhan announcing the matchup on his social media channels.
Almakhan, nicknamed "The Turan Warrior," is a 28-year-old Orthodox striker from Kazakhstan who trains out of Triumph Fights. He carries a 12-4-0 overall record into the bout, though he has gone 1-2 inside the UFC octagon. Standing five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach, Almakhan 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 tenure.
His opponent, 26-year-old Brazilian Jean Matsumoto, represents Inside MMA and brings a sharper offensive profile to the cage. Matsumoto owns an 18-2-0 professional record and has gone 3-2 in the UFC. Standing five-foot-six with the same 68-inch reach as Almakhan, the Orthodox fighter is notably active on the feet, landing 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also mixes in a ground dimension, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes and half a submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are firmly on the UFC roster bubble, making this a pivotal win-or-lose proposition for each man's standing.
- Matsumoto's high striking volume and takedown threat contrast with Almakhan's more measured, lower-output striking approach, setting up a clear stylistic test.
- A win for either competitor would represent meaningful momentum heading into the second half of the year on a high-profile international card in Azerbaijan.
