Jailton Jesus Almeida Júnior[3] (born 28 June 1991) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of November 7, 2023, he is #7 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.[4]
| Jailton Almeida | |
|---|---|
 Almeida in 2023 | |
| Born | Jailton Jesus Almeida Júnior 28 June 1991 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil |
| Other names | Malhadinho |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 241 lb (109 kg; 17 st 3 lb) |
| Division | Welterweight (2012, 2016) Middleweight (2017–2018) Light Heavyweight (2019–2022) Heavyweight (2019, 2022–present) |
| Reach | 79 in (201 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Salvador, Bahia, Brazil |
| Team | LG System |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2] |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 23 |
| Wins | 20 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 12 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Almeida was born in the Brotas neighborhood of Salvador. Almeida's first dream was to be a football player, his family's finances became an obstacle after he was required to acquire $10,000 real to join a club. He ended up following his father's footsteps into fighting, beginning by training boxing at the age of six, and starting Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 11.[2] He eventually started training mixed martial arts as his jiu-jitsu training partners were training it. Financial difficulties also imposed themselves in martial arts, leading Almeida to work as a doorman and guard while his dream of being a fighter was put on hold.[5][6]
Almeida is the son of divorced parents. He has 11 siblings, his older brother Alexandre disappeared one day after being involved with a criminal syndicate and was never seen again.[5][6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
To start his professional mixed martial arts career, Almeida racked a 13–2 record in Brazilian regional circuit.
Dana White's Contender Series
After claiming the Thunder Fight title, Almeida was invited to face Nasrudin Nasrudinov at Dana White's Contender Series 39 on September 14, 2021. He won the bout via second-round submission and was awarded a UFC contract.[7]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Almeida was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Danilo Marques on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197.[8] However Marques required surgery so the bout was rescheduled for February 5, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 200.[9] Almeida won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[10]
Move up to heavyweight
As his sophomore appearance in the organization, Almeida was scheduled to face Maxim Grishin on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206.[11] However, Grishin pulled out due to undisclosed reasons in late April. Almeida decided to move up to heavyweight to face Parker Porter.[12] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round one.[13]
As the first bout of his new contract, Almeida was scheduled to face Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 279 on September 10, 2022.[14] However, Abdurakhimov was forced to withdraw due to visa issues and was replaced by Anton Turkalj at a catchweight of 220 pounds.[15] He dominated the bout, taking down Turkalj and submitting him at the end of the first round via rear-naked choke.[16] He received his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[17]
The bout against Shamil Abdurakhimov was rebooked for UFC 280 on October 22, 2022.[18] With that date also falling through, the pair was re-booked for a third time at UFC 283.[19] Almeida won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[20] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[21]
Almeida faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4.[22] He won the bout via rear naked choke in first round.[23] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[24]
Almeida was scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231.[25] However, Blaydes withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by former UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Derrick Lewis.[26] Almeida won the fight via unanimous decision.[27] He also registered 21:10 of ground control time, the record for a UFC heavyweight bout and fourth-most in UFC history.[28][29] Almeida's performance and the fight were criticized by fans and fellow fighters for a lack of offense.[30][31][32]
Almeida faced Curtis Blaydes on March 9, 2024, at UFC 299.[33] After scoring multiple takedowns and controlling the first round with his grappling, Almeida lost the fight via knockout early in the second round.[34]
Almeida was scheduled to face Alexander Volkov on June 1, 2024 at UFC 302.[35] However, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons and Volkov was booked for UFC on ABC 6 against Sergei Pavlovich.[36] Almeida is now expected to face Alexander Romanov instead.[37]
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Anton Turkalj, Shamil Abdurakhimov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik[17][21][24]
- 2nd fewest strikes absorbed-per-minute in UFC history (0.7)[38]
- Highest control time percentage in UFC history (88.4%)[38]
- Highest top-position percentage in UFC history (80.6%)[38]
- Most ground control time in a UFC heavyweight bout (21:10) vs. Derrick Lewis[28][29]
- Most takedowns landed in a UFC Heavyweight round (9 in Round 1) vs. Curtis Blaydes[39]
- Fight On MMA
- FON Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- Thunder Fight
- Thunder Fight Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 23 matches | 20 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 2 |
| By submission | 12 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 20–3 | Curtis Blaydes | KO (punches) | UFC 299 | March 9, 2024 | 2 | 0:36 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 20–2 | Derrick Lewis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis | November 4, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 19–2 | Jairzinho Rozenstruik | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida | May 13, 2023 | 1 | 3:43 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–2 | Shamil Abdurakhimov | TKO (punches) | UFC 283 | January 21, 2023 | 2 | 2:56 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–2 | Anton Turkalj | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 279 | September 10, 2022 | 1 | 4:27 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (220 lb) bout. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–2 | Parker Porter | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira | May 21, 2022 | 1 | 4:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Heavyweight. |
| Win | 15–2 | Danilo Marques | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 1 | 2:57 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Nasrudin Nasrudinov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 39 | September 14, 2021 | 2 | 1:49 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Edvaldo de Oliveira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Thunder Fight 24 | February 21, 2021 | 1 | 3:40 | São Paulo, Brazil | Won the Thunder Fight Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–2 | Ildemar Alcântara | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Thunder Fight 23 | October 11, 2020 | 1 | 4:49 | São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–2 | Leonardo Argemiro Vasconcelos Correa | TKO (punches) | Future FC 11 | January 17, 2020 | 1 | 1:58 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–2 | Ednaldo Oliveira | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Fight On 6 | July 13, 2019 | 2 | 1:51 | Salvador, Brazil | Light Heavyweight debut. Won the vacant FON Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–2 | Rian Tavares | TKO (punches) | Imperium MMA Pro 14 | March 16, 2019 | 1 | 2:34 | Feira de Santana, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–2 | Italo Nascimento | KO (punches) | Premier Fight League 20 | February 23, 2019 | 1 | 2:05 | Lauro de Freitas, Brazil | Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 7–2 | Douglas Garcia | Submission (rear-naked choke) | JF Fight Evolution 19 | October 20, 2018 | 1 | 2:30 | Juiz de Fora, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–2 | David Allan | TKO (punches) | Fight On: Solidário | July 21, 2018 | 1 | 1:26 | Salvador, Brazil | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Bruno Assis | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 80 | January 28, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–1 | Anderson Oliveira do Nascimento | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight On 5 | September 23, 2017 | 1 | 4:16 | Salvador, Brazil | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Tyago Moreira | KO (punch) | Katana Fight 3 | August 5, 2017 | 1 | 0:16 | Colombo, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Fagner Rakchal | TKO (punches) | Fight On 4 | April 1, 2017 | 2 | 1:15 | Salvador, Brazil | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Roberto Bispo Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cross Fighting Championship 2 | January 16, 2016 | 2 | 1:30 | Itabuna, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Leonardo Alves | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Conquista Kombat Championship | November 17, 2012 | 1 | 0:49 | Vitória da Conquista, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Diego Reis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Nocaute: MMA Fight 2 | September 29, 2012 | 1 | N/A | Eunápolis, Brazil | Welterweight debut. |