Jailton Almeida


Jailton Jesus Almeida Júnior is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of 25 November 2025, he is #6 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.

Background

Almeida was born in the Brotas neighborhood of Salvador. Almeida's first dream was to be a football player, but 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. 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.
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.

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.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Almeida was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Danilo Marques on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197. However Marques required surgery so the bout was rescheduled for February 5, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 200. Almeida won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

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. However, Grishin pulled out due to undisclosed reasons in late April. Almeida decided to move up to heavyweight to face Parker Porter. He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round one.
As the first bout of his new contract, Almeida was scheduled to face Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 279 on September 10, 2022. However, Abdurakhimov was forced to withdraw due to visa issues and was replaced by Anton Turkalj at a catchweight of 220 pounds. He dominated the bout, taking down Turkalj and submitting him at the end of the first round via rear-naked choke. He received his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
The bout against Shamil Abdurakhimov was rebooked for UFC 280 on October 22, 2022. With that date also falling through, the pair was re-booked for a third time at UFC 283. Almeida won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.
Almeida faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4. He won the bout via rear naked choke in first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Almeida was scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231. However, Blaydes withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by former UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Derrick Lewis. Almeida won the fight via unanimous decision. He also registered 21:10 of ground control time, the record for a UFC heavyweight bout and fourth-most in UFC history. Almeida's performance and the fight were criticized by fans and fellow fighters for a lack of offense.
Almeida faced Curtis Blaydes on March 9, 2024, at UFC 299. After scoring multiple takedowns and controlling the first round with his grappling, Almeida lost the fight via knockout early in the second round.
Almeida was scheduled to face Alexander Volkov on June 1, 2024 at UFC 302. However, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons and Volkov was booked for UFC on ABC 6 against Sergei Pavlovich. Almeida ended up facing Alexander Romanov instead. Almeida won the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
Almeida faced Serghei Spivac on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311. He won the fight by technical knockout at the end of the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.
Almeida faced Alexander Volkov on October 25, 2025, at UFC 321. He lost the fight by split decision.
Replacing Ryan Spann, who withdrew for undisclosed reasons, Almeida is scheduled to face Rizvan Kuniev on February 7, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 266.

Championships and accomplishments

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • *Performance of the Night
  • *Fewest strikes absorbed-per-minute in UFC history
  • **Fewest strikes absorbed-per-minute in UFC Heavyweight division history
  • *Highest control time percentage in UFC history
  • **Highest control time percentage in UFC Heavyweight division history
  • *Third most top position time in UFC Heavyweight division history
  • *Highest top-position percentage in UFC history
  • **Highest top-position percentage in UFC Heavyweight division history
  • *Most submissions-per-15 minutes in UFC Heavyweight division history
  • *Most ground control time in a UFC heavyweight bout vs. Derrick Lewis
  • **Fourth-most ground control time in a UFC bout vs. Derrick Lewis
  • *Most takedowns landed in a UFC Heavyweight round vs. Curtis Blaydes
  • *UFC.com Awards
  • ** 2022: Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year
  • Fight On MMA
  • *FON Light Heavyweight Championship
  • Thunder Fight
  • *Thunder Fight Light Heavyweight Championship
  • Cageside Press
  • *2022 Newcomer of the Year
  • MMA Junkie
  • *2023 Breakout Fighter of the Year
  • MMA Fighting
  • *2022 Second Team MMA All-Star
  • *2023 Second Team MMA All-Star

    Mixed martial arts record