Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto will face each other on June 27 at UFC Baku. Almakhan, who holds a 1-2 UFC record, announced the bout on his social media. Matsumoto brings a 3-2 record in the UFC into the matchup. The post invited fans to predict the winner using reaction emojis. This bout adds another confirmed fight to the UFC's upcoming Baku card.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto have been confirmed to meet at UFC Baku on June 27, with Almakhan announcing the matchup through his own social media channels.
Almakhan, nicknamed "The Turan Warrior," enters the bout at 12-4-0 overall and carries a 1-2 record inside the UFC. The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan represents 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 his game has not featured notable takedown or submission activity at the UFC level.
Matsumoto arrives with considerably more momentum. The 26-year-old Brazilian from Inside MMA holds an 18-2-0 overall record and has gone 3-2 in the UFC. He stands five-foot-six and shares the same 68-inch reach as his opponent. Matsumoto is a notably active striker, averaging 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy, and he also contributes on the ground with three takedowns per 15 minutes and a modest submission threat.
Why it matters
- Almakhan needs a win to avoid falling to 1-3 in the UFC, putting his roster spot under pressure
- Matsumoto's high striking volume against a less active opponent creates a notable stylistic contrast
- The bout adds another confirmed pairing to the UFC's first-ever event in Baku, raising the card's profile
- Both fighters share identical reach at 68 inches, making distance management a potentially decisive factor
