Jailton Almeida is heading back to light heavyweight following consecutive losses within the UFC’s heavyweight division, his management team has confirmed.
The Brazilian submission specialist, who earned the nickname “Malhadinho” through a dominant run of finishes, has decided to drop down a weight class after suffering back-to-back defeats at heavyweight. The move marks a strategic pivot for the 33-year-old fighter, who had previously competed at 205 kilos before making the jump to heavyweight.
Almeida’s manager confirmed the news, signaling that the previous light heavyweight contender believes his best path forward lies in returning to the division where he previously found success. The choice comes after Almeida’s heavyweight run streak got here to an abrupt end with two consecutive losses against top-tier heavyweight competition.
The setbacks represent a major shift in momentum for Almeida, who had been considered one of the UFC’s most enjoyable prospects. His aggressive grappling style and relentless pace had carried him through multiple victories, with a lot of those wins coming by the use of submission or ground-and-pound finishes. Nonetheless, the scale and power disadvantages at heavyweight proved too difficult to beat against elite opposition.
Moving back to light heavyweight could reinvigorate Almeida’s profession trajectory. The division offers a more suitable physical matchup for his frame and skill set, where his grappling prowess and conditioning benefits ought to be more pronounced. At 205 kilos, Almeida won’t face the identical size disparities that hampered his recent heavyweight performances.
The sunshine heavyweight division is currently experiencing a competitive resurgence, with several contenders jockeying for position beneath champion Alex Pereira. Almeida’s return adds one other dangerous grappler to the combo in a division that has historically favored strikers on the championship level.
For Almeida, the load reduce to 205 kilos would require discipline and proper preparation, but it surely represents his best opportunity to get back within the win column. His submission skills and relentless pressure could prove particularly effective against light heavyweights who may not possess the identical one-punch knockout power he faced at heavyweight.
The UFC has not yet announced Almeida’s next opponent or when he’ll make his light heavyweight return, but fans can expect the Brazilian to be matched against a ranked contender as he looks to rebuild his momentum and work his way back into title contention.