Jailton Almeida Plans Light Heavyweight Comeback Following UFC Vegas 113 Defeat
Jailton Almeida is set to make a significant change in his mixed martial arts career. Following his recent performance at UFC Vegas 113, he plans to return to the light heavyweight division after a stint in the heavyweight category.
Decision to Move Back to Light Heavyweight
Almeida’s decision comes after a unanimous decision loss to Rizvan Kuniev on February 7, 2023, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. This match was a last-minute replacement for Ryan Spann. After this bout, Almeida’s managers, Tiago Okamura and Leonardo Pateira, revealed that “Malhadinho” will drop back to 205 pounds.
Recent Performance Overview
- Against Kuniev, Almeida landed 31 significant strikes, while Kuniev connected 43.
- His previous fight ended in a split decision loss to Alexander Volkov, where he managed only nine significant strikes despite dominating the top position for 11 minutes.
Heavyweight Stint
Jailton Almeida’s time at heavyweight featured mixed results. Since moving up in weight, he has recorded a record of 5-3. His notable victories include wins over:
- Derrick Lewis
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Shamil Abdurakhimov
- Alexandr Romanov
- Serghei Spivac
Out of these victories, four were achieved by stoppage, showcasing his finishing ability.
Return to Light Heavyweight Results
Almeida last competed in the light heavyweight division in February 2022 during his UFC debut. He recorded a quick knockout against Danilo Marques, finishing the fight in under three minutes. His subsequent bouts at heavyweight include a submission win over Parker Porter, demonstrating his grappling prowess.
As Almeida prepares for this new chapter in his UFC career, fans are eager to see how he performs upon his return to light heavyweight. His ability to adapt and compete at a high level will be put to the test as he seeks to rejuvenate his fighting trajectory.
