Brad Katona vs Bekzat Almakhan

strikevision1
May 6
2 min read

In a compelling bantamweight matchup, Canadian veteran Brad Katona faces off against Kazakhstan's Bekzat Almakhan. Katona, known for his technical prowess and resilience, aims to leverage his experience to secure another victory. Almakhan, bringing a dynamic striking arsenal and a hunger to bounce back from a debut loss.

Profiles:

Brad "Superman" Katona is a Canadian mixed martial artist competing in the UFC's bantamweight division. With a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses, Katona is renowned for his well-rounded skill set. He made history by becoming the only fighter to win "The Ultimate Fighter" twice. Training out of SBG Ireland under coach John Kavanagh, Katona combines technical striking with solid grappling, making him a formidable opponent.

Quick Stats:

Nationality: Canadian
Age: 33
Height: 5'6"
Reach: 64.5 inches
Team: SBG Ireland
Stance: Orthodox
MMA Record: 16 wins, 4 losses
UFC Record: 4 wins, 4 losses

Bekzat "The Turan Warrior" Almakhan is a Kazakhstani bantamweight fighter known for his explosive striking and finishing ability. Holding a professional record of 11 wins and 2 losses, Almakhan has secured 9 victories by knockout, showcasing his power and precision. A karate specialist, he brings a dynamic and unorthodox striking style to the octagon. Training with Triumph Fights, Almakhan aims to rebound from a recent loss and solidify his position in the UFC bantamweight division.

Quick Stats:

Nationality: Kazakhstani
Age: 27
Height: 5'7"
Reach: 68 inches
Team: Triumph Fights
Stance: Orthodox
MMA Record: 11 wins, 2 losses
UFC Record: 0 wins, 1 loss

Core Stats Comparison

Important to note Almakhan has only 1 recorded fight in the UFC

Offensive Breakdown:

From an offensive perspective, Brad Katona holds a clear statistical advantage in almost every category. His significant strike accuracy sits at 53%, far outpacing Almakhan’s 19%, indicating far better precision in exchanges. Katona also lands 4.84 significant strikes per minute, compared to just 0.2 from Almakhan — a massive discrepancy that highlights Katona’s much higher output and activity level.

In terms of grappling, Katona averages 1.88 takedowns per fight with a 34% takedown accuracy, while Almakhan has 0% in both categories, suggesting little to no offensive wrestling threat. Neither fighter averages any submission attempts, but Katona’s well-rounded skill set shows greater versatility across the board.

Defense Breakdown:

Defensively, the numbers are closer. Katona absorbs 4.72 strikes per minute, slightly more than Almakhan’s 4.53, though this may be due to Katona’s higher volume engagements. Katona also edges out in striking defense at 50% versus Almakhan’s 31%, meaning he avoids a higher percentage of incoming strikes.

Summary:

Bekzat Almakhan made his UFC debut against one of the most dominant grapplers in the division, Umar Nurmagomedov — a steep challenge for any newcomer. As such, his current stats likely don’t reflect the full scope of his potential. That said, if Katona leans on his wrestling and maintains consistent pressure, he has a clear path to replicating Nurmagomedov’s success.