Jailton Almeida was “really stunned however actually blissful on the identical time” when UFC CEO Dana White introduced that Jon Jones was formally retired from the game, which led to Tom Aspinall being elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion. That lastly clears an enormous logjam within the division, and “Malhadinho” hopes it results in a championship conflict with Aspinall.
Almeida made brief work of Alexandr Romanov and Serghei Spivac in his most up-to-date appearances, each back-to-back first-round finishes to rebound from the primary lack of his UFC profession. The opposite names at the moment ranked forward of him on the official UFC listing are Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov, Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes.
Gane hasn’t fought since scoring a extremely contested break up resolution over Volkov in December 2024, additionally Volkov’s most up-to-date bout. Blaydes solely lasted 60 seconds towards Aspinall after defeating Almeida, and gained a break up resolution over Rizvan Kuniev this previous weekend at UFC Baku. Pavlovich, who was knocked out by Aspinall for the interim belt in late 2023, faces Waldo Cortes-Acosta in August.
“We’re hopeful,” Almeida advised MMA Preventing. “In reality, I’m the one man within the division asking to combat Tom Aspinall. In the event you have a look at it, Volkov doesn’t ask for it. Ciryl Gane is taking pictures films, Pavlovich already fought him and has one other combat booked. I’m the one one left, and I’m the one calling him out.”
Aspinall has talked about Almeida prior to now, in addition to different choices for his subsequent bout, and the Brazilian says no different heavyweight is being as vocal as him concerning the alternative.
“I comply with Tom Aspinall on Instagram and watch all his coaching. It’s like homework for me already,” Almeida mentioned. “I’m the one speaking about him, sending messages, posting on Twitter, utilizing social media to advertise the combat. That’s the way it all begins. I don’t see anybody else calling out Tom Aspinall. I’m the one one asking to combat him. … I’ve seen him discuss me on podcasts, so let’s put pen to paper and signal the contract to combat me.”
Almeida has gained eight of 9 bouts since becoming a member of the UFC in 2022, scoring finishes in all however a kind of victories. Aspinall has the very same octagon file, however a one hundred pc end price.
“It’s going to be a fantastic combat as a result of our types are related. He’s quick. Not surprisingly he’s the champion,” Almeida mentioned. “What I’ve seen from Tom Aspinall is that he doesn’t combat 5 rounds. He’s by no means fought 5 rounds in his life. He will get drained after the second. Tom Aspinall was by no means examined to combat greater than three rounds. I’m doing six, seven rounds within the gymnasium already, and I’m not even coaching to combat but.
“If I combat Tom Aspinall, I’ll take him to the third spherical to see how he does. However Aspinall isn’t any idiot, he’s very skilled and has fought robust opponents, so I’ve to be sensible and give you a very good technique to beat him. To me, when the cage closes there, it’s a struggle. I’m prepared for a struggle.”
