The heavyweight grappler who mastered the art of ground control
In short: Jailton Almeida's path to the UFC was paved with financial hardship and a shift from football dreams to martial arts. While his dominance in the cage was often met with mixed reviews, his ability to control opponents on the mat rewrote the record books for the heavyweight division.
Born in Salvador, Brazil, in 1996, Jailton Almeida's early ambitions were centered on professional football. However, the $10,000 required to join a club proved an insurmountable barrier. Following his father's path, he began boxing at age six and transitioned to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age 11, eventually finding his niche in mixed martial arts.
During his ascent, Almeida balanced his training with work as a guard and doorman to manage financial difficulties. Following a 13–2 run through Brazil's regional scene, he earned a UFC deal by submitting Nasrudin Nasựdinov during the second round of Contender Series 39 on 14 September 2021.
Almeida became a statistical anomaly in the UFC heavyweight division. He holds the record for the highest control time percentage in the division at 67.7%, and his 21:10 of ground control against Derrick Lewis stands as the most in a single heavyweight bout. His grappling prowess is further evidenced by his 61.6% top-position percentage in the heavyweight class and his 29 landed takedowns, the fourth-most in division history.
Despite his technical dominance, his style has been polarizing. His performance against Derrick Lewis, while record-breaking for control time, drew criticism from fans and peers for a lack of offensive output. Following a series of high-profile bouts and a departure from the UFC in February 2026, Almeida signed with the Russian promotion Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA).
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jailton Almeida
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