Jailton Almeida, a prominent heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is not mad, but he is disappointed. After suffering his second defeat to Alexander Volkov at UFC 321, Almeida returns to the Octagon on Saturday to battle another Russian, Rizvan Kuniev, at UFC Vegas 113. In a recent interview, Almeida revealed why he accepted the short-notice matchup with Kuniev, an unranked fighter. He explained that he always stays active, helping his teammates even when he doesn't have a fight. When the UFC offered the fight three weeks ago, he and his manager decided to accept it as the first bout of a new contract.
Almeida sees a different stylistic clash with Kuniev, a two-time Dana White's Contender Series competitor, compared to his previous matches with wrestlers Curtis Blaydes and strikers like Volkov. He acknowledges that Kuniev is a very dangerous opponent, which is why no one else agreed to fight him. Almeida is determined to play his game, come out on top, and get back on track for the belt.
However, Almeida's focus has been diverted by a controversial comment made by UFC commentator and former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. During a conversation with Tom Aspinall backstage at UFC Abu Dhabi, Cormier made negative remarks about Almeida, which were overheard by Aspinall. Almeida, who had always treated Cormier with respect, was hurt by the unprofessional behavior. He believes that Cormier, as a UFC employee, had no right to whisper about another athlete behind their back. Almeida expressed his disappointment, stating that a real man can't have two faces and should stand by their words.
Despite the controversy, Almeida remains focused on his upcoming fight. He is the highest-ranked Brazilian in the heavyweight division, with a career record of 22 wins and 4 losses. Almeida has victories over notable fighters like Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Serghei Spivac. He is determined to move past the Cormier incident and continue his journey towards the belt.
