In the world of mixed martial arts, controversy can often overshadow a fighter's achievements. Jailton Almeida, a rising star in the UFC’s Heavyweight division, is currently facing criticism for his fighting style, which some have labeled as "boring." But here’s the pivotal point — one fight should not define an athlete’s entire career.
This Saturday, February 7, 2026, Almeida will make a quick return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 113, taking on the Russian contender Rizvan Kuniev in a highly anticipated match at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Almeida, who has impressively finished seven of his eight victories in the UFC — with six of those finishes occurring in the first round — has been under fire lately for his grappling-heavy strategy. Although he has only seen the judges' scorecards twice throughout his career, both of those fights drew criticism for their perceived lack of excitement, primarily due to Almeida’s preference for maintaining top control and a cautious approach to ground-and-pound.
Addressing these concerns during the media day for UFC Vegas 113, Almeida expressed his viewpoint: "I believe fans need to look at my entire journey and watch my fights from the beginning. Check out my performances on the Contender Series; in many instances, I didn’t even get hit. I won’t allow just one fight to determine who I am as a fighter. It’s essential for people to recognize that my path in the UFC has been quite successful."
Almeida emphasized that the root of the issue does not lie in his abilities, but rather in his mentality. "It all comes down to being more aggressive, something I’ve talked about before," he explained. "I was well-prepared for my fight against Alexander Volkov, yet I wasn’t aggressive enough. Confidence plays a crucial role, and in that match, I lacked it when it came to executing my ground-and-pound. It’s really about shifting my mindset to become more aggressive."
This mental shift is already in progress. Almeida has focused on enhancing his ground-and-pound techniques instead of solely relying on submissions, where he has already achieved four wins in the UFC. He understands that this may be crucial against Kuniev, who possesses a potent striking game along with a solid grappling background.
For Almeida, UFC Vegas 113 is more than just another matchup; it’s an opportunity to showcase why he has ascended the Heavyweight ranks so rapidly. Fans are eager to see if he can prove his critics wrong and demonstrate the full extent of his skills.
To explore the complete fight card for UFC Vegas 113 and to find out more about streaming options on Paramount+, click here.
