Bekzat Almakhan (1-2 UFC) will face Jean Matsumoto (3-2 UFC) on June 27 at UFC Baku, according to Almakhan's social media announcement. The bout represents an important opportunity for Almakhan to secure his first UFC win streak after dropping his UFC debut. Matsumoto brings a winning UFC record into the matchup, having won three of his five promotional appearances. The fight will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking another UFC event in the region. Official UFC confirmation was not mentioned in the post.
Bekzat Almakhan has announced via social media that he will face Jean Matsumoto on June 27 at UFC Baku in Azerbaijan, with official confirmation from the promotion not yet forthcoming.
Almakhan, nicknamed "The Turan Warrior," carries a 12-4-0 overall record into the matchup. The 28-year-old Kazakh fighter trains out of Triumph Fights and competes in an orthodox stance, standing five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. His UFC tenure has been a work in progress, and a victory in Baku would represent a meaningful step forward in his promotional career. His output numbers reflect a measured approach, landing 1.61 significant strikes per minute at 34 percent accuracy, with limited grappling activity recorded in his UFC bouts.
Matsumoto, 26, arrives with an 18-2-0 professional record and has gone 3-2 inside the octagon for the Brazilian out of Inside MMA. At five-foot-six with a matching 68-inch reach, the orthodox fighter is notably active on the feet, landing 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also adds a grappling dimension, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.5 submission attempts in the same span, making him a multifaceted threat.
Why it matters
- Almakhan needs a win to build momentum after a difficult start to his UFC tenure, while Matsumoto looks to extend his promotional record above the .500 mark
- Matsumoto's high-volume striking and takedown threat create a stark stylistic contrast with Almakhan's more measured offensive output
- The card adds to the UFC's continued investment in Baku as a regional hub, giving local and regional fans another major event to rally around
