Jailton Almeida steps into UFC 321 with a statement to make, and the timing couldn’t be bigger.
As Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane battle for heavyweight supremacy in the main event, Almeida will look to force his way into that title conversation by taking out veteran contender Alexander Volkov. In a division finally moving again, a dominant win on Saturday could launch Almeida directly into the Aspinall-Gane winner’s crosshairs.
Almeida (22-3) didn’t hide his ambition when asked about the state of the heavyweight division and what’s next if he gets past Alexander Volkov at UFC 321. While others have tiptoed around Aspinall’s name, Almeida made it clear he’s not one of them.
“It kind of feels like I’m the only one that actually wants that fight, I keep asking for it,” Almeida told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“Nobody really seems to want to fight Aspinall, but I do.”
Almeida doubled down on his callout when discussing the trajectory of the division and his frustration with how the title picture has taken shape. He made it clear that while others hesitate, he’s actively raising his hand for the toughest challenge available.
“I need to put out there that I am available. I want it. It seems like I’m the only one that really wants it, and is ready to beat Aspinall, they ended up going a different direction,” he said.
“Still it’s one more fight that I have to go through, and hopefully I get my title shot next.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jailton Almeida above. He faces Alexander Volkov at UFC 321 on Saturday night.
