Lucas Almeida

Jailton Jesus Almeida Jr. is a Brazilian heavyweight who climbed from the Salvador streets to become one of the UFC's most dominant grapplers. Born in 1991, Almeida worked as a doorman and security guard while pursuing his fighting dream, turning professional after building a 13-2 record in the Brazilian regional circuit. He earned his UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series in September 2021 and announced himself immediately: a technical knockout in his debut, followed by a series of rear-naked choke submissions that showcased world-class positional grappling. By 2023, Almeida was a legitimate heavyweight title contender, earning four Performance of the Night bonuses and setting the UFC heavyweight record for ground control time (21:10 against Derrick Lewis), along with the fourth-longest control stretch in company history. He became a mainstay on main cards and earned accolades as the 2023 Breakout Fighter of the Year.

Almeida fights like a scientist on the mat: methodical takedowns, suffocating top pressure, and lethal submissions. He absorbs minimal damage while imposing his will for three rounds, relying on jiu-jitsu pedigree and wrestling rather than striking volume. This approach earned him a devoted grappling-focused fanbase but also drew criticism during his 2023 bout versus Derrick Lewis, where his dominant but offensively sparse performance sparked debate about entertainment value versus tactical excellence.

However, the past eighteen months have been brutal. A second-round knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes in March 2024 exposed cracks in his striking defense. Losses to Alexander Volkov, Rizvan Kuniev, and most recently Michael Aswell (a shocking 102-second knockout at UFC Rio in October 2025, reportedly while fighting with a broken hand) have tanked his stock. The UFC parted ways with Almeida in February 2026 after the Kuniev loss, and he signed with Russian promotion Absolute Championship Akhmat. From prospect to veteran in decline, Almeida's fall mirrors the old heavyweight tale: even elite grappling cannot overcome compounding losses and injury management failures at the elite level.