UFC Heavyweight Contender Jailton Almeida Drops Down to Light Heavyweight

After two straight losses at heavyweight, Almeida will return to his original weight class.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida has decided to drop back down to the light heavyweight division after suffering his second consecutive defeat in the Octagon. Almeida, who earned his UFC contract at 205 pounds, moved up to heavyweight but has struggled in his last two bouts, leading him and his team to make the decision to return to his original weight class.

Why it matters

Almeida was seen as a rising star in the UFC's heavyweight division, but his recent losses have put his future in jeopardy. By returning to light heavyweight, he has a chance to rebuild his momentum and potentially work his way back into title contention in a less crowded weight class.

The details

After losing a split decision to Alexander Volkov in his previous fight, Almeida stepped into the Octagon at UFC Vegas 113 to take on Rizvan Kuniev. However, he was unable to get back in the win column, suffering another defeat. Following the fight, Almeida's manager Laerte Viana announced that the 34-year-old Brazilian will drop back down to the light heavyweight division for his next bout.

  • Almeida earned his UFC contract at 205 pounds on Contender Series in 2021.
  • Almeida made his official UFC debut at light heavyweight, knocking out Danilo Marques in the first round.
  • Almeida then moved up to heavyweight, where he lost a split decision to Alexander Volkov in his previous fight.
  • Almeida suffered his second straight loss at UFC Vegas 113 on February 10, 2026.

The players

Jailton Almeida

A 34-year-old Brazilian UFC heavyweight contender who has decided to drop back down to the light heavyweight division after two consecutive losses.

Laerte Viana

Jailton Almeida's manager, who announced that his client will return to the light heavyweight division for his next fight.

Alexander Volkov

The UFC heavyweight fighter who defeated Jailton Almeida via split decision in Almeida's previous bout.

Rizvan Kuniev

The UFC heavyweight fighter who defeated Jailton Almeida in the main event of UFC Vegas 113.

Dana White

The president of the UFC, who may have had a say in Almeida's decision to drop down to light heavyweight.

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What they’re saying

“Almeida will drop back down to light heavyweight for his next fight.”

— Laerte Viana, Jailton Almeida's manager (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Almeida's next fight will likely come against a top 15 light heavyweight opponent as he looks to rebuild his momentum in the division where he first earned his UFC contract.

The takeaway

Jailton Almeida's decision to drop back down to light heavyweight after two straight losses at heavyweight shows his willingness to make adjustments and find the right path forward in his UFC career. This move could be a crucial step in getting the Brazilian contender back on track and potentially working his way into title contention in a less crowded weight class.