Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto will meet at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026. Almakhan announced the bout on his social media channels. Almakhan enters with a 1-2 UFC record while Matsumoto holds a 3-2 record with the promotion. The matchup pairs two fighters looking to improve their standing in the UFC. UFC Baku represents the promotion's event in Azerbaijan later this summer. The post includes a poll asking fans to predict the winner.
Bekzat Almakhan announced via social media on April 15 that he will face Jean Matsumoto at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, with the Kazakhstani fighter also posting a fan poll asking followers to predict the winner.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," carries a 12-4-0 overall record into the bout, including a 1-2 mark inside the UFC. The 28-year-old orthodox striker from Kazakhstan trains out of Triumph Fights and stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. His UFC output has been measured, landing 1.61 significant strikes per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate, and he has not recorded a takedown or submission attempt in his time with the promotion.
Matsumoto presents a markedly busier profile. The 26-year-old Brazilian holds an 18-2-0 overall record and has gone 3-2 in the UFC, fighting out of Inside MMA. He stands five-foot-six with the same 68-inch reach as his opponent and lands an imposing 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy. Matsumoto also contributes on the ground, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.5 submission attempts in the same span.
Why it matters
- Almakhan needs a victory to avoid slipping further below the .500 mark in the UFC, making this a must-win situation for his roster standing.
- Matsumoto, already sitting at 3-2 with the promotion, will look to build momentum and push toward the fringes of divisional relevance with a winning record.
- The striking volume gap is significant — Matsumoto's output nearly triples Almakhan's — while Matsumoto's grappling adds a second dimension that Almakhan has yet to contend with in his UFC appearances.
- UFC Baku marks the promotion's foray into Azerbaijan, giving the card added promotional weight and a spotlight for fighters seeking exposure.
