Bekzat Almakhan (1-2 UFC) and Jean Matsumoto (3-2 UFC) will face each other on June 27 at UFC Baku. The bout was announced by Almakhan through his social media channels. Both fighters are looking to improve their UFC records, with Almakhan seeking his second UFC victory and Matsumoto aiming to get back into the win column. The post includes a poll asking fans to predict the winner. This matchup adds to the growing card for the UFC's event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto are set to collide on June 27 at UFC Baku, with Almakhan announcing the matchup through his social media channels. The bout adds another notable pairing to the growing card for the UFC's event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," carries a 12-4-0 overall record into the fight, with a 1-2 mark inside the Octagon. The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of Triumph Fights and stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. He fights out of an orthodox stance and lands 1.61 significant strikes per minute, with a striking accuracy of 34 percent. Almakhan will be looking to pick up his second UFC victory and steady a career that has had a rocky start at the highest level.
Matsumoto brings a considerably busier style to the table. The 26-year-old Brazilian, representing Inside MMA, holds an 18-2-0 overall record and a 3-2 UFC ledger, making him the more experienced of the two at this level. He stands five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach and matches Almakhan's orthodox stance. Matsumoto lands an impressive 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy, and he also poses a threat on the ground, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes along with 0.5 submission attempts in the same span. He enters looking to return to the win column after a setback.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are on the bubble of UFC viability, making this a high-stakes outing for each man's roster standing
- Matsumoto's volume striking and grappling output presents a sharp stylistic contrast to Almakhan's more measured offensive approach
- A win for either fighter would represent meaningful momentum heading into the second half of 2026
- The bout further solidifies UFC Baku as a card with genuine competitive intrigue across multiple divisions
