Former UFC contender Jailton Almeida books first fight since being cut by Dana White after 8-3 run

Jailton Almeida will make his ACA debut on September 12.

Earlier this yr, Almeida was cut from the UFC roster after losing back-to-back fights at heavyweight.

The Brazilian previously headlined two events as considered one of the highest contenders within the division, though his grappling-heavy style didn’t make him a fan favorite.

Almeida responded to this news by specializing in latest dreams and challenges by signing to a brand new promotion and getting back to work.

In case you were Dana White, who’s the primary fighter you’d cut from the UFC roster?

Jailton Almeida set to face Evgeny Goncharov at ACA 207 in first fight since UFC departure

Fans who called for Dana White to chop Jailton Almeida in February got their wish after it was confirmed that he was not an element of the UFC roster.

In the identical month as his release, Almeida was announced to have signed with Absolute Championship Akhmat, or ACA.

His debut for the Russian promotion is now official for ACA 207 on September 12, where he’ll headline the cardboard in Krasnodar, Russia.

Evgeny Goncharov will look to spoil his debut after being called essentially the most dominant heavyweight within the history of the promotion.

Goncharov has held the promotion’s heavyweight title on multiple occasions, having gone 8-1-1 under the ACA banner since debuting in 2019.

Almeida received various newcomer and breakout fighter awards from media outlets for the six-fight win streak that he put together when arriving within the UFC.

After starting out at light heavyweight, he moved up a weight class and cemented himself as a top contender by winning back-to-back fundamental events over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Derrick Lewis.

He put together an 8-3 record within the UFC, having been stopped by Curtis Blaydes in 2024 before losing consecutive decisions in his final two fights with Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev,