Jean Matsumoto earned a unanimous decision victory over Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Baku, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor.
Jean Matsumoto picked up a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, with all three judges returning identical 29-28 scorecards in the Brazilian's favor.
Matsumoto, 26, came into the fight carrying one of the more impressive records in his division at 18-2-0. The Inside MMA product out of Brazil is a high-output striker, averaging 5.37 significant strikes landed per minute at 39 percent accuracy, and he also brings a meaningful grappling threat with three takedowns per 15 minutes and a submission rate of 0.5 attempts per 15 minutes. That combination of volume striking and wrestling versatility makes him a difficult puzzle for almost any opponent.
Almakhan, nicknamed The Turan Warrior, entered the bout at 12-4-0. The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of Triumph Fights and stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. His output numbers — 1.61 significant strikes landed per minute at 34 percent accuracy — paint a picture of a patient, deliberate fighter who does not rely on takedowns or submissions to score, making his game plan heavily dependent on precision and timing rather than volume.
Why it matters
- The 29-28 scorecards on all three cards signal a competitive, closely contested bout despite Matsumoto's significant output advantage on paper.
- Matsumoto's win improves him to 19-2-0 and strengthens his case for a higher divisional ranking given his striking volume and well-rounded skill set.
- Almakhan drops to 12-5-0 and will need a strong response in his next outing to avoid falling further back in the rankings picture.
- The result highlights the growing international depth in the division, with fighters from Brazil and Kazakhstan meeting on a card held in Azerbaijan.
