Bekzat Almakhan (1-2 UFC) will face Jean Matsumoto (3-2 UFC) at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026. The bout was announced through Almakhan's social media accounts. Almakhan is looking to rebound from a difficult start to his UFC career with only one win in three fights. Matsumoto enters with a winning record in the promotion at 3-2. This matchup represents an important opportunity for both fighters to improve their standing within the UFC. The fight will take place at the promotion's event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto have been booked to meet at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, with the matchup announced through Almakhan's social media channels. The contest adds another compelling fight to the promotion's event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," is a 28-year-old Kazakh fighter out of Triumph Fights carrying a 12-4-0 overall record. His UFC tenure has been a struggle so far, with just one win in three promotional appearances, and he will be looking to turn his fortunes around on home-region soil. Standing five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach, the orthodox striker lands 1.61 significant strikes per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate, and has yet to record a takedown or submission attempt across his UFC run.
Matsumoto represents a stiff challenge for Almakhan's bounce-back bid. The 26-year-old Brazilian from Inside MMA holds an 18-2-0 record overall and has built a winning 3-2 mark inside the UFC. At five-foot-six with a matching 68-inch reach, Matsumoto is a high-output orthodox fighter who lands an impressive 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also adds a wrestling dimension to his game, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes alongside half a submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Almakhan desperately needs a win to justify his place on the UFC roster after a 1-2 start to his promotional career.
- Matsumoto arrives with a winning UFC record and significantly higher striking output, making him a legitimate step-up test.
- The stark contrast in striking volume — Matsumoto averaging more than three times Almakhan's output — sets up an intriguing stylistic puzzle for the Kazakh fighter to solve.
- A win for either man could meaningfully shift their positioning within a competitive division.
