Jailton Almeida is actively seeking his next fight in the UFC and is even considering a move back down to the light heavyweight division to make it happen. Known as “Malhadinho,” Almeida recently improved his octagon record to 8-1 with a dominant first-round finish over Serghei Spivac in January, marking his second consecutive quick victory in the promotion. Following this impressive performance, he was hopeful for high-profile matchups against top heavyweight contenders like Ciryl Gane or Alexander Volkov.
However, when neither of those potential bouts materialized, Almeida turned his attention to interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Aspinall himself has expressed frustration with the uncertainty surrounding the division`s future due to the prolonged inactivity of undisputed champion Jon Jones.
Speaking about the situation, Almeida admitted the difficulty in securing a fight, saying, “It`s hard, man. It feels like the time I was fighting in Brazil.” He noted that among the fighters ranked above him, Aspinall appears to be the only one who has publicly mentioned his name, while others like Gane and Volkov remain silent.
Almeida maintains a rigorous training schedule in Brazil, staying prepared for any interesting opportunities that might arise on short notice. With Volkov openly stating his lack of interest in fighting the Brazilian and Gane taking time away for movie commitments, Almeida believes he should be the primary candidate to challenge Aspinall. He argued against Ciryl Gane getting the next title shot, asserting, “I don`t think it`s fair to have Ciryl Gane fight Tom Aspinall.” Almeida highlighted his own recent dominant win as justification, pointing out that Sergei Pavlovich and Volkov have already faced Aspinall, and Curtis Blaydes is booked for another fight. He also suggested Gane`s last decision victory was questionable, reinforcing his claim that he deserves the opportunity for a title bout.
Given the current gridlock in the heavyweight title picture, Almeida decided to shift his focus towards Magomed Ankalaev. Following his victory over Alex Pereira in March, Ankalaev, who became the new light heavyweight champion, put out a public call on social media asking if anyone at 205 pounds was willing to fight him by June 28, noting that other potential opponents had turned him down.
Almeida, who originally began his UFC tenure in the light heavyweight division before moving up to heavyweight, quickly stepped forward to answer the challenge. While accepting the potential fight, Almeida criticized Ankalaev`s approach and tone, calling it “audacity.” He acknowledged Ankalaev`s status as champion but suggested that preparing for a title fight requires adequate time. Almeida speculated that Ankalaev might be seeking attention or “clout chasing” due to other top light heavyweights like Pereira (who is recovering and just returning to training) and Jiri Prochazka (who stated he is busy with schooling) not being immediately available.
Despite currently weighing around 240 pounds, Almeida declared his willingness to make the “sacrifice” to cut back down to light heavyweight, mentioning that it would be a more manageable process now due to a higher body fat percentage. Almeida also noted that he was previously unable to assist Alex Pereira in preparing for his fight against Ankalaev due to an injury, but is now ready to face the champion himself in the cage.
Confident in his grappling skills, Almeida stated regarding Ankalaev, “The mistake he makes against me, if he goes down on his back, he`s not getting back up.” He reiterated his finishing ability, emphasizing, “I`m a finisher, either by knockout or submission.”
