Bekzat Almakhan
The Turan Warrior
Kazakhstan
Gives up lead in Baku
Almakhan lost to Jean Matsumoto via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Baku on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Almakhan fought admirably here as a slight betting underdog and even won Round 1 on the strength of his striking (and a knockdown). He allowed Matsumoto to recover, however, and the Brazilian led the dance the rest of the way. They were close Rounds, but Almakhan simply didn't do enough. He's now lost three of four UFC fights, all via decision, putting his roster spot in jeopardy.
Almakhan fought admirably here as a slight betting underdog and even won Round 1 on the strength of his striking (and a knockdown). He allowed Matsumoto to recover, however, and the Brazilian led the dance the rest of the way. They were close Rounds, but Almakhan simply didn't do enough. He's now lost three of four UFC fights, all via decision, putting his roster spot in jeopardy.
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Matsumoto up next
Almakhan will fight fellow bantamweight Jean Matsumoto at UFC Baku on June 27, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Almakhan's first UFC win came in May, but instead of a win streak, he finished 2025 with a 1-1 record after Aleksandre Topuria outlasted the former in their Qatar bout late-November. By defeating Matsumoto, perhaps Almakhan can maintain some much-needed stability.
Almakhan's first UFC win came in May, but instead of a win streak, he finished 2025 with a 1-1 record after Aleksandre Topuria outlasted the former in their Qatar bout late-November. By defeating Matsumoto, perhaps Almakhan can maintain some much-needed stability.
Power shots not landing
Almakhan lost to Alexsandre Topuria via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Qatar on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Almakhan tends to load up on his power shots, and while they found a home in his May knockout victory over Brad Katona, that wasn't the case here Saturday. Topuria was more calculated in his approach and had Almakhan leaking blood from his face by Round 2. Topuria also racked up more significant strikes and control time in all three rounds, so it was a relatively easy decision for the judges. Almakhan now falls to 1-2 in the UFC, but he presumably has some runway given his debut loss was to Umar Nurmagomedov.
Almakhan tends to load up on his power shots, and while they found a home in his May knockout victory over Brad Katona, that wasn't the case here Saturday. Topuria was more calculated in his approach and had Almakhan leaking blood from his face by Round 2. Topuria also racked up more significant strikes and control time in all three rounds, so it was a relatively easy decision for the judges. Almakhan now falls to 1-2 in the UFC, but he presumably has some runway given his debut loss was to Umar Nurmagomedov.
Taking on Topuria in November
Almakhan will face Aleksandre Topuria at UFC Qatar on November 22, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Almakhan will head into the bout looking to build positive momentum coming off a recent victory over Brad Katona in May. The 5-foot-7 fighter from Kazakhstan matches up evenly with Topuria in terms of stature, measuring equally in both height and reach with the 29-year-old Georgian. With a perfect 10-0 professional record in KO/TKO finishes, expect Almakhan to look to use his stopping power to end this one early.
Almakhan will head into the bout looking to build positive momentum coming off a recent victory over Brad Katona in May. The 5-foot-7 fighter from Kazakhstan matches up evenly with Topuria in terms of stature, measuring equally in both height and reach with the 29-year-old Georgian. With a perfect 10-0 professional record in KO/TKO finishes, expect Almakhan to look to use his stopping power to end this one early.
Shines in first UFC victory
Almakhan defeated Brad Katona via KO (punches) at 1:04 of Round 1 at UFC 315 on Saturday in Montreal.
ANALYSIS
Almakhan made his UFC debut in March 2024 against Umar Nurmagomedov in an impossible spot. He scored a Round 1 knockdown before being completely overwhelmed the rest of the way. That power was on display again tonight, except this time around, he was able to get his opponent out of there. With 10 of his 12 career wins coming via knockout, it's clear Almakhan's greatest weapon is the thunder in his hands. His future development will be interesting to watch because there's a ton of fighters in the bantamweight division better than Katona but very few as good as Nurmagomedov.
Almakhan made his UFC debut in March 2024 against Umar Nurmagomedov in an impossible spot. He scored a Round 1 knockdown before being completely overwhelmed the rest of the way. That power was on display again tonight, except this time around, he was able to get his opponent out of there. With 10 of his 12 career wins coming via knockout, it's clear Almakhan's greatest weapon is the thunder in his hands. His future development will be interesting to watch because there's a ton of fighters in the bantamweight division better than Katona but very few as good as Nurmagomedov.
Scheduled for pay-per-view
Almakhan is scheduled to compete against fellow bantamweight Brad Katona at UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Even though Almakhan was overwhelmed in his UFC debut, it was against an eventual bantamweight championship challenger, so the aforementioned fight's loser has warranted another fight. This time, it comes against a longtime veteran who went 1-2 in 2024.
Even though Almakhan was overwhelmed in his UFC debut, it was against an eventual bantamweight championship challenger, so the aforementioned fight's loser has warranted another fight. This time, it comes against a longtime veteran who went 1-2 in 2024.