Jailton Almeida turned a critical participant at heavyweight in 2023.
The Dana White’s Contender Sequence graduate has torn via competitors and finds himself on the cusp of title competition. If it wasn’t for the logjam at heavyweight, Almeida (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) may probably have already been there.
Exercise was maybe Almeida’s most spectacular feat. The 32-year-old continued his busy schedule since becoming a member of the UFC roster in late 2021. Like 2022, Almeida logged in three fights, however towards a lot stiffer competitors.
He drew his most skilled opponent thus far in Shamil Abdurakhimov to kick off 2023 and sliced via the Dagestani fighter for a second-round TKO to earn a bonus at UFC 283 in January. Almeida then landed his first headliner when he confronted former kickboxer Jairzinho Rozenstruik in Could. His floor recreation proved to be an excessive amount of when he wanted lower than a spherical to submit Rozenstruik to earn his third straight bonus.
To cap off the 12 months, Almeida headlined one other present, this time at dwelling towards former title challenger Derrick Lewis. It was not his most crowd-pleasing efficiency, however Almeida dominated the knockout artist on the bottom en path to a lopsided determination win in November in Sao Paulo.
Almeida already has his subsequent struggle booked. He returns at UFC 299 on March 9 towards Curtis Blaydes (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) – the unique opponent for his most up-to-date outing at UFC Combat Evening 231 earlier than Blaydes withdrew and was changed by Lewis.
Almeida’s dominance on the bottom makes him a critical risk at heavyweight. With 12 submissions to his identify, Almeida can stake his declare for a shot at gold if he can get previous a fellow elite grappler in Blaydes. If he retains up his exercise, Almeida very effectively could possibly be within the title image in 2024.
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