Jean Matsumoto showed plenty of heart in Baku, overcoming an early knockdown to grind out one of the toughest wins of his UFC career.
The Brazilian bantamweight survived a dangerous first round against Bekzat Almakhan before taking over with pressure and volume to secure a unanimous decision victory on Saturday at UFC Baku.
Matsumoto found himself in trouble early when “The Turan Warrior” repeatedly connected with his powerful right hand. One of those shots dropped the 26-year-old Sao Paulo native to the canvas, but he quickly recovered and refused to let the momentum completely slip away. Instead, Matsumoto rallied late in the round by securing a takedown and ending the frame on top.
Jean Matsumoto increased his pace in the second round and started forcing Almakhan backward, mixing punches, kicks, and knees while constantly making the Kazakh work. Despite absorbing several hard counters and fighting through a cut above his left eye, the Brazilian never eased off the pressure, closing the round with a flurry of strikes.
The final five minutes were a back-and-forth affair, but Matsumoto’s relentless output continued to be the difference. He mixed in occasional takedown attempts and consistently attacked the body while keeping “The Turan Warrior” on the defensive.
After three entertaining rounds, all three judges awarded Matsumoto a 29-28 victory.
With the victory, Jean Matsumoto bounced back from his split-decision loss to Farid Basharat and improved to 4-2 inside the Octagon and 18-2 as a professional. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum also holds wins over Brad Katona and Dan Argueta.
