UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis


UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on November 4, 2023, at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil.

Background

The event marked the promotion's ninth visit to São Paulo and first since UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré in November 2019.
The event was expected to be headlined by a heavyweight bout between Curtis Blaydes and Jailton Almeida. However, Blaydes withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by former UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Derrick Lewis.
A women's strawweight bout between Eduarda Moura and Kim So-yul was scheduled for the event. However, Kim was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Montserrat Ruiz. At the weigh-ins, Moura weighed in at 119.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the strawweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and she was fined 30% of her purse which went to Ruiz.
A middleweight bout between Caio Borralho and Nursulton Ruziboev was expected to take place at the event. However, Ruziboev withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Abusupiyan Magomedov.
A bantamweight bout between Daniel Santos and Daniel Marcos was expected to take place at the event. However, Santos pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Victor Hugo. However, the bout was scrapped after Hugo weighed in at 138.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit.
A featherweight bout between Lucas Alexander and David Onama was scheduled to take place in the preliminary card. However, the bout was cancelled after Onama suffered an injury.
At the weigh-ins, Ismael Bonfim weighed in at 159.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. As a result, his scheduled bout with Vinc Pichel was scrapped.
A middleweight bout between Rodolfo Vieira and Armen Petrosyan was scheduled to take place on the main card, but it was scrapped after Petrosyan became ill backstage during the event.

Results

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.
  • Fight of the Night: Nicolas Dalby vs. Gabriel Bonfim
  • Performance of the Night: Elves Brener and '''Vitor Petrino'''