Heavyweight standout Jailton Almeida is making a huge impression on UFC President Dana White.
Almeida’s tear through the division continued this past Saturday at UFC on ABC 4 in Charlotte, NC, as he dismantled Jairzinho Rozenstruik before winning his first round via rear choke in the main event.
The result pushed Almeida’s overall winning streak to 14 fights, as he hasn’t lost since January 2018. This includes his first five fights in the UFC since he was awarded a contract through Dana White Contender Series in September 2021. All five of his victories in the UFC have been finishes.
Needless to say, White is quite pleased with what he’s seen in such a short time and believes Almeida (19-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) is poised for a big future.
“We were looking forward to main eventing this card. That’s why we picked these two,” White told reporters at the UFC on ABC 4 press conference after the event. “We knew he was going to be — this guy looks like he’s going to be a star in the heavyweight division. …
“His double leg is insane. When he gets that higher position, he doesn’t mess it up. He goes in there and tries to finish. I have so many, many high hopes for this kid. I think he’s going to be something special.”
It’s been quite a run for the 31-year-old Brazilian, who should jump dramatically from 12th in the UFC heavyweight rankings after defeating No. 9 Rozenstruik in dominant fashion.
After his victory, Almeida called a fight with Tai Toivasa and said he expected to fight for the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2024.
For more information on the card, visit the UFC’s MMA Junkie Events Center on ABC 4.