Prediction: Bekzat Almakan via Decision
These are two extremely well-rounded fighters who can strike, wrestle, and defend at a high level, so this ultimately becomes about pace, variety, and effectiveness—and that’s where Bekzat starts to pull ahead.
Katona is the more classic, boxing-centric technician. He relies on sharp timing, head movement, and tight combinations, and he thrives when he can dictate rhythm. He’s fundamentally sound and rarely out of position offensively, but defensively he’s more hittable than he should be for someone with his experience. He tends to move straight back or stay in the pocket a half-second too long without actively framing or cutting angles, which leaves him open for layered striking. That’s a critical window for someone like Almakhan, who is active, explosive, and doesn’t throw just one shot at a time.
Almakhan’s offense stands out because he blends his kicks and punches fluidly, especially off forward pressure. He doesn’t throw just to throw—he throws to make reads, create reactions, and then build combinations off them. That’s what makes him so dangerous against guys like Katona who want a clean, measured boxing match. Bekzat doesn’t give you that. He throws kicks to all levels, disrupts rhythm, and forces you to reset. If you can’t make him hesitate, he keeps that pace high and starts building volume. Katona has solid output, but his style is more reactive—and against a guy who doesn’t slow down and doesn’t stand still, that can get him outworked round-by-round.
The wrestling here is interesting but likely a wash. Both guys have excellent takedown entries and even better takedown defense. Katona is very good at scrambling back to his feet, and Bekzat has the hips and balance to stuff most shots and reverse position. Neither guy has shown enough consistent top control against high-level opponents to suggest they’ll dominate the other on the ground, so this is going to be decided mostly on the feet. And in a striking battle, Almakhan’s speed, variety, and constant pressure give him a clear edge.
What also backs the decision lean is both guys’ durability and fight IQ. They’ve both been in tough, competitive fights and haven’t shown signs of fading or mentally breaking. Even when clipped, they recover well, use smart defense, and never get reckless. That makes a finish unlikely unless someone has a catastrophic lapse, and that’s not how either of them fights. They’re both too sharp and too seasoned for that.