Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto will face each other on June 27 at UFC Baku. Almakhan, who holds a 1-2 record in the UFC, announced the matchup on his social media. Matsumoto brings a 3-2 UFC record into the bout. The fight represents an important opportunity for both fighters to improve their standing in the promotion, with Almakhan particularly needing a victory to reverse his current losing UFC record.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto have been booked to meet at UFC Baku on June 27, with Almakhan announcing the matchup through his social media channels.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," enters the bout carrying a 12-4-0 professional record, though his UFC career has been a difficult one so far, sitting at 1-2 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 at a 34 percent striking accuracy rate, numbers that suggest he will need to sharpen his output if he is to earn a decisive performance.
Matsumoto brings considerably more momentum into the contest. The 26-year-old Brazilian, who trains with Inside MMA, holds 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 his opponent, Matsumoto is notably active on the feet, landing 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also poses a threat on the ground, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes and half a submission attempt per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded skillset heading into the matchup.
Why it matters
- Almakhan, at 1-2 in the UFC, is in genuine need of a win to secure his place on the roster
- Matsumoto's superior striking volume and grappling output make him a stern test for Almakhan's continued development
- The contrasting styles — Almakhan's measured output versus Matsumoto's high-pace, multi-threat approach — set up an intriguing stylistic clash
- A win for either fighter in Baku could open the door to a ranked opponent and sharpen their divisional profile
