The Rookies: UFC Fight Night 238

Bekzat Almakhan could not have drawn a more difficult assignment.

The surging Kazakhstani prospect will make his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov in a three-round UFC Fight Night 238 bantamweight showcase on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. One of five first-time Octagon competitors on the bill, Almakhan joins the roster on the strength of an eight-fight winning streak.

Operating out of the Triumph Fights dojo in Uzynagash, Kazakhstan, Almakhan has torn through regional competition in Europe and Asia. The 26-year-old has secured 13 of his 14 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, seven of them inside one round.…