In the competitive world of mixed martial arts, insights from within a fighter`s camp often carry unique weight. Brazilian UFC flyweight Eduarda Moura, a rising talent herself, offers a compelling view on the heavyweight division`s immediate future, specifically concerning her teammate, Jailton Almeida.
Almeida, known for his relentless grappling and finishing ability, has carved a dominant path through the UFC heavyweight ranks since his 2022 debut. With eight wins in nine promotional appearances, predominantly secured via stoppage, his ascent has been rapid and undeniable. According to Moura, this impressive record leaves the promotion with limited options for the powerhouse heavyweight.
Moura succinctly captures the sentiment: “There’s nothing else to be done. He will fight someone now, maybe Volkov, whoever shows up, but the next one you can’t deny him a shot at the belt. There’s nowhere to go.” This perspective highlights the perceived inevitability of Almeida challenging for the sport`s highest prize. While acknowledging that Almeida himself is patient, Moura firmly believes his place is at the very top.
While Almeida awaits his next assignment, potentially a clash with Alexander Volkov, the looming target remains interim champion Tom Aspinall. Almeida has campaigned for this matchup, and Moura believes it`s a necessary, albeit challenging, step. She sees Aspinall as potentially “the toughest fight of ‘Malhadinho’s’ career,” suggesting that the current waiting period might be beneficial for Almeida to further refine his skills and arrive at peak performance for such a significant encounter.
Moura doesn`t just see a win against Aspinall; she envisions a specific, rare outcome against the dangerous Brit. “I think ‘Malhadinho’ takes him down and catches him, for sure,” she states confidently. This prediction hinges on Almeida`s core strength – his elite wrestling and jiu-jitsu. While acknowledging Aspinall`s speed and striking power, Moura anticipates Almeida will resort to his signature takedown-heavy approach early in the fight, aiming to neutralize Aspinall`s stand-up and secure a submission – a feat not seen against Aspinall in a decade. The hope, delivered with a touch of humor, is for a swift finish to spare their hearts the tension.
For Moura, the path is clear. Almeida`s consistent performances mean a title shot is not a matter of `if,` but `when.` The team, she notes, understands this, which contributes to their patient approach as they await the official confirmation of his next high-stakes bout.
Moura herself is navigating her own path in the UFC, recently making a successful move to the flyweight division. This transition followed a difficult strawweight weight cut that significantly impacted her performance in a prior bout. At flyweight, she feels stronger and healthier, removing the “brutal” weight cut factor that previously caused physical distress and affected her sleep.
Ahead of her upcoming bout against veteran Lauren Murphy at UFC Nashville, Moura expresses similar confidence in her ground game, anticipating that her grappling will eventually overwhelm the experienced opponent. A victory would move her to 2-0 in her new division.
Adding a layer of personal perspective on title challenges, Moura candidly compares the potential challenges across divisions. While respecting Valentina Shevchenko, a dominant figure at flyweight, she admits finding strawweight queen Weili Zhang “a badass” and “more apprehensive of fighting her in a title fight than Shevchenko.” This reveals a pragmatic fighter`s assessment – acknowledging the unique threat posed by certain opponents, even outside one`s current weight class. The possibility of Weili moving up is something Moura dismisses with a laugh, but she remains prepared for any eventuality in her own climb up the flyweight ladder.
Whether discussing her own trajectory or her teammate`s seemingly unstoppable ascent, Moura’s perspective highlights the confidence brewing within their camp. For Jailton Almeida, according to Eduarda Moura, UFC heavyweight gold is not just a hope, but an inevitable destination, potentially reached via a historic submission of the current interim champion.
