After enduring two straight defeats, UFC heavyweight contender Jaylton Almeida has decided to make a significant change in his career.
At UFC Vegas 113 last Saturday, Almeida stepped back into the Octagon to face off against Rizvan Kniev. “Marhadinho” was aiming to bounce back after losing a split decision to Alexander Volkov in his previous fight. Unfortunately, with his future at stake, the 34-year-old delivered another underwhelming performance and was defeated by unanimous decision.
Almeida Moves Down to Light Heavyweight
Following yet another disappointing outing, many fans called on UFC president Dana White to release Almeida from the promotion. However, Almeida took control of his next step before any official action was taken. According to Reate Viana, Almeida’s manager confirmed that the fighter plans to return to the light heavyweight division for his upcoming bout.
Back in 2021, when Almeida secured his UFC contract through the Contender Series, he competed at 205 pounds and defeated Nasrudin Nasrudinov. He then made an impressive UFC debut by knocking out Danilo Marques in the first round. Shortly after, Almeida moved up to heavyweight to face Parker Porter, marking the start of his run in the heavier division. Now, he’s attempting to drop back down to 205 pounds. This move isn’t just about size — it’s also about improving his overall effectiveness inside the cage.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
What’s Next for Jaylton Almeida?
Currently ranked sixth in the heavyweight rankings, Almeida is unlikely to continue competing at light heavyweight if it means dropping out of the top contenders in that division. One possible matchup could be against Chinese fighter Minyan Zhang, who recently suffered his first UFC loss to Johnny Walker. “The Mountain” might offer the perfect opportunity for Almeida to restart his climb after stepping down in weight.
Fan Take: Almeida’s move back to light heavyweight signals a pivotal moment for his career and highlights the challenges fighters face when fluctuating between divisions. For fight fans, it adds an intriguing storyline to watch—can Almeida’s renewed focus at 205 pounds reignite his career and shake up the light heavyweight landscape?
