The battle of young bantamweight contenders will be featured at the UFC Baku card, as Bekzat Almakhan takes on Jean Matsumoto inside the National Gymnastics Arena.
Both are coming off losses in their previous fights, but Matsumoto will be the betting favorite with -165 UFC odds, while Almakhan is going to be the betting underdog with +135 odds.
UFC Baku: Bekzat Almakhan vs. Jean Matsumoto Fight Odds
- Bekzat Almakhan: +135
- Jean Matsumoto: -165
UFC Baku: Bekzat Almakhan vs. Jean Matsumoto: Tale of the Tape
| Bekzat Almakhan | Jean Matsumoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 28 | 26 |
| Height | 5’7” | 5’6” |
| Reach | 68 inches | 68.5 inches |
| Leg Reach | 38 inches | 36 inches |
| Record | 12-3 | 17-2 |
| Fighting Style | Karate | Muay Thai |
| Finishing Rate | 92% | 53% |
UFC Baku: Bekzat Almakhan vs. Jean Matsumoto: Prediction
A decision win for Matsumoto over Almakhan is my prediction, as he’s the quicker fighter and has more variety in his offensive arsenal. The Muay Thai background of Matsumoto allows him to fire quick and sneaky leg kicks.
These leg kicks will be effective against the wide Karate stance of Almakhan, as it will compromise his movement and power as the fight progresses. Also, Matsumoto can throw elbow strikes from close range whenever they get tangled off the fence.
Lastly, Matsumoto also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, so don’t be surprised if he takes Almakhan down and maneuvers to multiple submission attempts. Almakhan had a hard time defending takedowns against Aleksandre Topuria in his previous fight.
Bekzat Almakhan’s Recent Fight Results
Almakhan signed with the UFC in 2023 after an impressive run in other promotions. In three octagon appearances, he only had one win against Brad Katona and dropped the other two to Umar Nurmagomedov and Topuria.
Jean Matsumoto’s Recent Fight Results
Matsumoto was a former Standard Fighting Tournament and Fight Pro Championship champion before he earned a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. Since then, he recorded three wins (Dan Argueta, Katona, and Miles Johns) and two losses (Rob Font and Farid Basharat) in five octagon bouts.
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