Bekzat Almakhan has the unenviable task of facing the unbeaten, 16-0 Umar Nurmagomedov in Almakhan’s promotional debut at UFC Vegas 87. The card is headlined by heavyweights Jair Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev, but a couple of newcomers in Almakhan and Bernardo Sopaj may actually hold more promise.
Bekzat Almakhan
Standing at five-foot-seven
Fighting at 135 lbs (bantamweight)
26-years-old
Fighting out of Uzynagash, Kazakhstan
Training out of Triumph Fights
A pro record of 17-1
13 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
How Almakhan will fare in the UFC:
Almakhan is a well-rounded fighter with a lot of the basics needed. The biggest improvement I’d like to see him make is with his grappling. His wrestling is good, ground and pound is excellent, and he is strong on top. His problem is improving positions and it’s why he’s been told to get up while on top a few times in his career. It’s not a big issue but it would elevate his game much higher. His wrestling checks out though. He can get the takedowns from the clinch but from the outside as well. Almakhan has a nice double leg he goes to. He shots off throwing an overhand right so the setups are nice. Defensively too his takedown defense has looked great and defensive wrestling is on point.
On the feet, Almakhan has the power, speed, and shot placement. Overall his right hand is his best weapon. That could just be with a hook, straight, overhand, or off a one-two. Almakhan does a great job of coming in with a straight left followed by a right hand. He does throw usually always in twos. Almakhan throws a sneaky head kick that he hides behind punches.
Almakhan doesn’t have any glaring holes, although he could keep his hands up higher because a few times he’s been clipped especially with a kick. It’s more so that he just needs to grow as a fighter and improve his ground game. I see Almakhan being in the UFC for years and eventually ranked in the top 15.
How he matches up with Nurmagomedov:
Almakhan is getting an insane UFC debut fighting the #13-ranked Nurmagomedov. Nobody would fight Nurmagomedov so they had to get a highly touted newcomer to take the fight. As good as Almakhan is Nurmagomedov is on a different level. He’s better in every area. I can see him either winning by a headkick or maybe a decision. I see Almakhan being competitive but it’s a step up too soon.
