Jailton Almeida looks to keep his train rolling as he faces the UFC’s all-time knockout leader in Derrick Lewis at UFC Sao Paulo.
5-0 in the Octagon, finished ALL of his opponents 😳@Malhadinho_UFC is ready for Derrick Lewis next at #UFCSP! pic.twitter.com/RKLEaoxey1
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2023
At UFC Sao Paulo, the stage feels set for another of the heavyweight divisions most talented up-and-comers. Jailton Almeida, after a respectable 13-2 record, entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021 and has delivered on the enormous promise he showed on the regional and grappling scenes. The 32 year-old “Malhadinho” hasn’t seen the third round yet in the Octagon in a blinding five fight run that most recently saw him win his first UFC headliner earlier this year. In a division loaded with heavy hitters, Almeida’s grappling attack is a change of pace that fans and pundits alike have recognized.
On Saturday, Almeida has been granted a seemingly strong hand. Originally set to face the multi-faceted perennial contender Curtis Blaydes, an injury led to a replacement opponent in “The Black Beast.” On top of having an abbreviated camp, many would argue that Almeida’s new opponent is also stylistically a better match up for him. If that wasn’t enough, Almeida also gets the luxury of not having to travel as far as he is fighting in his home country where he will also enjoy being the crowd favorite when the match begins. Finally, the timing of the bout can’t be overstated as Almeida gets the main event spotlight just a week before the interim title in his division will be contested for and thus could put him in the conversation to compete for it.
The current record for most knockouts in the UFC is held by Derrick Lewis with 14. 😵@TheBeast_UFC is back in the Octagon this Saturday at #UFCSP! Will he make history and make it 15??
[ 9pmET / 6pmPT | Live on ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/jcMkdZgmiz
— UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2023
Though he has downplayed the situation, one can only assume that Derrick Lewis is dealing with the distraction of his legal woes. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Lewis had been arrested for reckless driving less than two weeks out from the fight. While he is scheduled to appear in court on December 27, he will also now need to tune out the distraction. However much it is truly affecting him, only he knows.
Going into his last fight, “The Black Beast” might have felt his back against the wall. Lewis had dropped three consecutive fights by knockout to several elite contenders and while his spot in the UFC might have been safe, his time amongst the elite might have been over. As it would turn out, it made his fight against Rogerio de Lima all the more electrifying. Lewis came out of the gate with a jumping knee and followed up for a quick and emphatic knockout that brought the fans to their feet in Salt Lake City. One could argue he is playing with house money by stepping up on short notice. While becoming another victim of Almeida may be disheartening, the opportunity to take out the rising star and get back into the title conversation is well worth the risk.
Should Almeida emerge victorious at UFC Sao Paulo, one could make the argument that he should challenge the winner of Serghei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall and treat them as the undisputed champion in 2024 regardless of where Jon Jones may be. If the parties involved decide to wait for the UFC to make decisions with the belt, then a bout with former interim champion Ciryl Gane may make more sense. Should Lewis leave Brazil with the victory, a rematch with Gane or a bout with Aspinall (should Aspinall be victorious) make the most sense given his resume and history against most of the ranked opposition at heavyweight.
