The bout between Bekzat Almakhan and Je Matsumoto got off to a fast, action-packed start at UFC Baku. The card is streaming live on Paramount+.
Bekzat Almakhan and Jean Matsumoto wasted no time at UFC Baku, turning in an action-packed opening to their bout as the card streamed live on Paramount+ on June 27, 2026.
Almakhan, known as The Turan Warrior, enters the fight representing Kazakhstan with a professional record of 12-4-0. The 28-year-old orthodox striker stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach and trains out of Triumph Fights. He lands 1.61 significant strikes per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate, a profile that suggests he picks his shots with patience rather than volume.
His opponent, Jean Matsumoto, presents a sharply contrasting picture. The 26-year-old Brazilian from Inside MMA carries an impressive 18-2-0 record and brings considerably more offensive output to the cage. Matsumoto lands 5.37 significant strikes per minute at 39 percent accuracy, making him one of the busier strikers on the roster. He also mixes in a grappling threat, averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.5 submission attempts in the same span. Standing five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, he shares near-identical physical dimensions with Almakhan.
Why it matters
- Matsumoto's high striking volume against Almakhan's more measured output sets up a clear pace-versus-precision dynamic
- Matsumoto's takedown activity adds a second dimension that Almakhan, who averages zero takedowns per 15 minutes, will need to account for
- Both fighters are in their mid-to-late twenties and building toward divisional relevance, meaning momentum from this bout carries real weight for future matchmaking
