Jailton Almeida is the newest addition to the ACA MMA heavyweight division a week after being released from the UFC, the Russia-based organization announced Saturday. Almeida is yet to book his promotional debut.
Even though ACA announced that Almeida will compete in the heavyweight division, the Brazilian remains open to a future move to 205 pounds, MMA Fighting has learned. He previously declared he would return to light heavyweight following a widely panned loss to Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Vegas 113, prior to parting aways with the promotion.
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According to multiple people close to negotiations, “Malhadinho” was offered contracts with major organizations around the globe before opting to sign with ACA. Almeida had conversations with PFL, RIZIN, KSW and Oktagon before ultimately agreeing to join the Russian promotion.
Notably, a sixth offer came at the eleventh hour, before Almeida put pen to paper. Most Valuable Promotions offered Almeida a one-fight deal with to face former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos on the Netflix show on May 16, an event headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano in California, but Almeida kept his word and signed a four-fight contract with ACA instead.
Almeida holds a 22-5 record as a professional after winning eight of 11 bouts under the UFC banner, with seven of his wins coming by way of stoppage against the likes of Serghei Spivac, Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Abdurakhimov. “Malhadinho” was let go after back-to-back decision defeats to Alexander Volkov and Kuniev.
