UFC Fight Night: Jailton Almeida vs Rizvan Kuniev Preview & Prediction
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Jailton Almeida steps in for Ryan Spann on short notice to take on Rizvan Kuniev at heavyweight, with both fighters aiming to prove a point following disappointing results last time out.
Jailton Almeida vs Rizvan Kuniev facts
What time are Jailton Almeida and Rizvan Kuniev expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs Oliveira? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs Oliveira? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs Oliveira on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs Oliveira? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs Oliveira main card
Mario Bautista vs Vinicius Oliveira (Bantamweight)
Amir Albazi vs Kyoji Horiguchi (Flyweight)
Jailton Almeida vs Rizvan Kuniev (Heavyweight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk vs Marc-Andre Barriault (Middleweight)
Jean Matsumoto vs Farid Basharat (Bantamweight)
Dustin Jacoby vs Julius Walker (Light Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs Oliveira prelims
Alex Morono vs Daniil Donchenko (Welterweight)
Bruna Brasil vs Ketlen Souza (Women’s Strawweight)
Said Nurmagomedov vs Javid Basharat (Bantamweight)
Wang Cong vs Eduarda Moura (Women’s Flyweight)
Muin Gafurov vs Jakub Wiklacz (Bantamweight)
Klaudia Syguła vs Priscila Cachoeira (Women’s Bantamweight)
Nikolay Veretennikov vs Jose Henrique Souza (Middleweight)
Jailton Almeida: "Malhadinho" faces a crossroads moment in this short-notice heavyweight showdown
Replacing the injured Ryan Spann on less than a month’s notice, Jailton Almeida (22-4) returns following one of the more bizarre fights of 2024. Despite landing seven out of nine takedowns against Alexander Volkov, “Malhadinho” failed to advance position or score damage to any meaningful degree, meaning that the judges ultimately sided with “Drago” at UFC 321. At his best, Almeida is a nightmarish match up for anyone, combining relentless takedowns with suffocating top control. However, while his UFC record still stands at an impressive 8-2, Almeida seemingly falls apart if he’s unable to find the finish after grounding his opponents.
Rizvan Kuniev: Can the PFL veteran prove he belongs at the top of the pack in the UFC's sparse heavyweight division?
A veteran of PFL and Eagle FC, many fans and pundits argued that Rizvan Kuniev (13-3-1) had done enough to secure victory against Curtis Blaydes in his UFC debut last June, stuffing thirteen of fifteen takedown attempts and badly bloodying the American en route to a split decision defeat. A heavy-handed striker with nine finishes in thirteen wins, the hulking Russian has an iron chin and has never been finished. However, while his record is undoubtedly impressive, Kuniev’s reputation for multiple failed drug tests throughout his career means that his success has come with a considerable asterisk next to his name.
Jailton Almeida vs Rizvan Kuniev prediction
Kuniev must be commended for taking on such a matchup at the eleventh hour. The Russian likely would have walked through Ryan Spann, and he’s now facing arguably the most avoided contender at 265 pounds on less than a few weeks notice.
Almeida is often the subject of ridicule for his grapple heavy style, but outside of top contenders Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes, nobody has been able to prevent him from having his way with them. Moreover, despite his reputation as a wet blanket, Malhadinho has finished all but one of his eight UFC victories, pulverizing his opponents with ground and pound or throttling them into submission with a rear naked choke. He has preternatural success with his takedown attempts; a status quo underlined by a combined twenty takedowns against the aforementioned Volkov and Blaydes.
The only question is whether the judges will reward his grapple heavy, damage light approach this time around. Kuniev exhibited excellent takedown defense against Blaydes and will likely follow the blueprint laid down by the fighters who have beaten Almeida, attempting to land damage from the bottom or in the clinch when Almeida attempts to wrestle. He’s also got serious power on the feet and is more than capable of punishing a momentary lapse in “Malhadinho’s” concentration with a KO blow.
However, while the Russian is undoubtedly a live dog in this one, Almeida’s skillset and record of success means that he remains the marginally safer pick. If he doesn’t score a submission, he’s likely toast, but I like his chances here.
Prediction: Jailton Almeida to win by submission
