Bekzat Almakhan dropped a unanimous decision to Zhan Matsumoto at UFC Baku, leaving him with a 1-3 record in the promotion. Matsumoto, who entered the bout at 17-2, handed Almakhan his third UFC defeat. Despite knocking Matsumoto down during the fight, Almakhan was judged to have been outworked over the full distance.
Bekzat Almakhan suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Zhan Matsumoto at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, dropping his promotional record to 1-3 and falling to 12-4 overall.
Almakhan, known as "The Turan Warrior," is a 28-year-old orthodox fighter from Kazakhstan representing Triumph Fights. Standing five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach, the striker has posted a modest output inside the Octagon, averaging 1.61 significant strikes landed per minute at a 34 percent accuracy rate. Despite those numbers, he showed moments of genuine danger against Matsumoto, scoring a knockdown during the contest before ultimately being outworked across the full 15 minutes by the judges' verdict.
Matsumoto entered the fight carrying a 17-2 record and proved difficult to deal with over the championship distance, controlling enough of the bout to earn all three scorecards despite hitting the canvas at some point during the fight.
Why it matters
- Almakhan's 1-3 UFC record puts his roster spot in serious jeopardy, as the promotion typically reassesses fighters on losing streaks
- The knockdown he scored suggests finishing ability remains in his arsenal, but an inability to convert cost him dearly on the scorecards
- Matsumoto's win strengthens his position in the division and adds a notable scalp to a record that already stood at 17-2 heading in
