UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida is hoping for a quick turnaround to challenge interim champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro on May 4, if he emerges victorious and uninjured from his upcoming fight with Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299.
UFC 299 might be a stepping stone for Jailton Almeida. He’s eyeing a quick comeback to challenge interim champ Tom Aspinall at UFC 301. The date? May 4, in Rio de Janeiro.
Almeida, known as “Malhadinho”, spilled the beans on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast. His upcoming heavyweight clash with Curtis Blaydes, he reckons, could decide the next contender for the interim belt. Why? Jon Jones, the champion, is out with an injury. And Stipe Miocic, Jones’ potential opponent, doesn’t seem keen on facing Aspinall right now.
“We have to put on a show in this fight,” Almeida stated. He’s aware of Aspinall’s claim of a new generation rising. And he’s ready. Ready for the moment he’s dreamed of since he started training MMA. Fighting for the UFC belt. “With a show on Saturday, we’ll ask the boss for a chance. I don’t see another option, I have to fight for the belt this year. There’s no one else with this winning streak and the hype I’ll have after I beat Curtis Blaydes, God willing.”
Almeida’s record since joining UFC in 2022 is impressive. Six straight wins, five of them finishes. His victims include Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Abdurakhimov. His most recent victory? A decision win over Derrick Lewis, who stepped in for Blaydes on short notice. This was the main event of UFC Sao Paulo last November.
Aspinall, on the other hand, grabbed the UFC interim belt with a 69-second upset of Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023. His only loss in eight octagon appearances? A knee injury loss to Blaydes, just 16 seconds into their match last July.
The UFC is planning a Fight Night show in Manchester later this year. But an interim title bout headlining UFC 301 in Brazil could be a better business move. And Almeida? He’s game, provided he walks away from Saturday’s card unscathed.
“If I don’t have any injuries, and God willing I won’t,” Almeida said, “I think I’d take the risk and chase Tom Aspinall here in Brazil.”
Aspinall, according to Almeida, is experienced, young, and versatile. A well-rounded fighter. “Everybody sees that he’s becoming one of the best heavyweights of all-time and I have to study him a lot because he’s very versatile, he moves a lot. He has good jiu-jitsu too, and sharp striking. He’s a complete fighter.”
Almeida’s focus is 100 percent on his upcoming opponent. But he always keeps an eye on the man at the top of the division. That was the case for Jones, and the same applies to Aspinall.
If they do meet in the future, “Malhadinho” is already searching for answers. “I started watching his fights when he became champion,” Almeida said. “If you look at the stats and break down fights, Tom Aspinall was never pressured on the ground. We don’t know how good he is on the ground. He’s a black belt, of course, everybody knows that, but he was never pressured on the ground. We don’t know how good Tom Aspinall is with his back on the ground.”
Almeida feels ready to go five rounds against Blaydes. But unlike their planned main event in Brazil, they only have 15 minutes to go on Saturday. “Malhadinho” calls himself an “unpredictable” heavyweight who can either submit you or finish with strikes, and promises an exciting match in Miami. However, he enters the cage after facing criticism for what many perceived to be a lackluster victory over Lewis.
“I’m OK with that,” Almeida said. “Fans will complain, but what I’ve done so far in the UFC is surreal. [Lewis] was coming off an extremely brutal knockout over [Marcos Rogerio de Lima] and I was able to do that to him for five rounds. I’m happy with what I’ve done. I know fans will complain, but I can’t let that inside my head. Fans want a show, of course, but what happens behind the scenes? I tried to submit him at all times but I realized it was impossible, he has no neck. I’m sure fans liked my other fights, and I have plenty more to show.”