The Brazilian heavyweight powerhouse, who built a fame contained in the Octagon as one of the vital suffocating grapplers within the division, has signed a four-fight take care of the Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), passing on a crowded field of suitors that included among the most recognizable names and platforms in combat sports today.
Based on MMA Fighting, Almeida fielded serious interest from several promotions following his departure from the UFC, including PFL, RIZIN, KSW, and OKTAGON — organizations that collectively represent a large global footprint in the game. Any one in every of those deals would have kept “Malhadinho” within the highlight and in front of a large international audience.
🚨 Jailton Almeida passed on multiple offers after his UFC departure, including a suggestion to fight Junior Dos Santos on Netflix for @MostVpromotions on May sixteenth but would as an alternative sign a 4-fight take care of ACA.
Almeida had spoke with multiple other promotions as well:
✅ PFL
✅… pic.twitter.com/OlJWxx8v3g— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) February 22, 2026
Perhaps essentially the most eye-catching offer he declined, nevertheless, was a probability to fight former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos on Netflix through MostV Promotions on May sixteenth. That fight would have been a marquee event, putting Almeida against a legend of the heavyweight division in front of a large streaming audience, the type of exposure most fighters outside the UFC can only dream about.
As a substitute, Almeida selected ACA.
The move signals a transparent strategic decision. ACA has steadily positioned itself as one of the vital competitive promotions outside of the UFC and PFL landscape, boasting a deep roster and a robust presence in Eastern Europe and beyond. For Almeida, a four-fight deal provides stability and a transparent path to reestablishing himself as an elite-level heavyweight with championship ambitions.
At just 32 years old, Almeida still has his best years ahead of him. His UFC run showed flashes of brilliance; he went 8-3 contained in the Octagon, however the promotion ultimately moved on. Now, with a fresh start and a loaded field of potential opponents waiting in ACA, Almeida has a chance to remind the world exactly why he was once considered a future heavyweight contender.
The JDS fight on Netflix would have been must-watch television. But Almeida is clearly betting on himself long-term, and ACA could be the stage where he rebuilds his legend one dominant performance at a time.