Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto will face each other on June 27 at UFC Baku. Almakhan announced the bout on his social media accounts. Almakhan holds a 1-2 UFC record while Matsumoto enters with a 3-2 promotional record. The post did not specify the weight class or card placement for the matchup. UFC Baku represents the promotion's event in Azerbaijan's capital city.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto are set to clash at UFC Baku on June 27, with Almakhan announcing the matchup himself through his social media channels. The weight class and card placement for the bout were not specified in the announcement.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," is a 28-year-old from Kazakhstan fighting out of Triumph Fights. He carries a 12-4-0 overall record and a 1-2 mark inside the UFC. The orthodox striker stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach and lands 1.61 significant strikes per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate.
Matsumoto is a 26-year-old Brazilian competing out of Inside MMA with an impressive 18-2-0 overall record and a 3-2 showing in the UFC. At five-foot-six with a matching 68-inch reach, the orthodox fighter brings a notably busier output, landing 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy. He also adds a grappling dimension to his game, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.5 submission attempts in the same span.
Why it matters
- Matsumoto's significant striking volume dwarfs Almakhan's, setting up a potentially lopsided pace battle on the feet
- Matsumoto's takedown activity gives him a secondary path to victory that Almakhan has not demonstrated an answer to in his UFC numbers
- A win for either fighter would carry weight in their respective promotional trajectories, with Matsumoto holding the stronger UFC ledger at 3-2 and Almakhan looking to avoid falling to 1-3 inside the octagon
- UFC Baku marks the promotion's continued push into new markets, giving the card additional promotional significance beyond the individual matchup
