Bekzat Almakhan (UFC 1-2) and Jean Matsumoto (UFC 3-2) will fight on June 27 at UFC Baku. Almakhan announced the matchup on his social media channels. The post provides no additional details about the significance of the bout or the weight class, focusing only on the basic fight announcement and the fighters' current UFC records.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto have been booked to face each other at UFC Baku on June 27, with Almakhan announcing the matchup through his social media channels.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," carries a professional record of 12-4-0 and sits at 1-2 inside the UFC. The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of Triumph Fights and competes as an orthodox fighter standing 170 cm tall with a 173 cm reach. His UFC output has been measured, averaging 1.61 significant strikes landed per minute at a 34 percent striking accuracy rate.
Matsumoto enters the contest with an overall record of 18-2-0 and has gone 3-2 in the UFC. The 26-year-old Brazilian represents Inside MMA and also fights out of an orthodox stance, sharing Almakhan's 173 cm reach despite standing slightly shorter at 168 cm. His numbers inside the Octagon are notably more active on the feet, averaging 5.37 significant strikes landed per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also adds a grappling dimension, posting three takedowns per 15 minutes along with a submission attempt rate of 0.5 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Matsumoto's high-volume striking output — more than three times Almakhan's — sets up a clear contrast in offensive approach
- Matsumoto's takedown activity could test Almakhan, who has recorded no takedowns per 15 minutes in his UFC run
- A win for either fighter would provide crucial momentum, with Almakhan needing a victory to improve on a 1-2 UFC mark and Matsumoto looking to build toward contender status at 3-2
