Jailton Almeida would happily accept UFC title shot, but really wants Alexander Volkov
Jon Jones' retirement and Tom Aspinall's undisputed crowning sent shockwaves through the combat sports world, but the news meant more to Jailton Almeida than pretty much everyone.
With the divisional fog that's loomed over the heavyweight division for nearly two years finally lifted, Almeida (22-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is on the shortlist of fighters in the discussion for Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC).
"I'm happy with the news," Almeida told MMA Junkie on Monday through a Portuguese language interpreter. "The division is finally going to move. That's a great thing. I am a little surprised about how things went about. Dana White just giving us the information at a press conference is a little weird for the size of Jon Jones and everything he represents. To get the news like that, that he's retiring, is a little surprising. But I can't complain. On my side, I can't complain, I might finally get a chance to move forward."
Almeida has been in limbo since his win over Serghei Spivac in January. He confirmed the UFC offered him a June 14 bout vs. Alexander Volkov, but the Russian heavyweight could not take it. The promotion then pointed to sometime in the fall, but now Almeida said he's unsure about that, too.
"It's not looking like it's happening either," Almeida said. "I've just been focusing on working on myself, working on my game and helping all my training partners. ... We're still waiting because that's a fight that I think moves me forward and toward our goal. But if it's Volkov, if it's Gane, if it's Aspinall, I'm training and getting better and getting ready for whatever comes next. Maybe I'll be a reserve for a title fight if they don't give it to me. Who knows? The original fight was supposed to be Volkov and that's a fight that I really want. But if it's not going to happen, there's nothing to do about it and I just move forward. We have to move forward."
Almeida, Volkov (38-11 MMA, 12-5 UFC), and former interim champion Ciryl Gane are the three names fight fans have repeatedly brought up since Saturday's crowning of Aspinall. Gane and Volkov most recently appeared against one another in December when Gane won a controversial split decision.
While UFC CEO Dana White has declined to reveal the promotion's lean in terms of Aspinall's first fight as undisputed champion, the promotion announced Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho as a main event for its return to Paris in September. Given Gane's popularity and history as a Paris headliner, that could indicate the Frenchman is next for the British champion.
Though Almeida acknowledges the "best case scenario" of a title shot is unlikely, he remains firm that he is the most difficult test in the division for Aspinall, who typically holds a significant grappling advantage over his opponents.
"Looking at the current scene, Volkov as much as the win was controversial for Gane, had Volkov won, maybe he'd be in title conversations," Almeida said. "But coming off a loss, even if it was a robbery, you can't having a guy coming off a loss fighting for the title right away, unless he's a huge name, which is unfortunately not the case for him. Then, we've got Gane who is coming off a (win) that is controversial and who has already fought for the title a couple times. He was successful in the interim, I think. He's probably the strongest name of the people who are on the run. He's already been there. He's done it. He hasn't been super successful, so I think I'm the most interesting fight to make at this moment. I'm coming off two good wins and I got a bonus in my last one. I haven't fought for a title and I haven't fought Aspinall. Everything considered, I think I have to be the best option for them unless they are really stuck on having to do something with Gane. I think right now, I'm what the division needs."
Until clarity comes, Almeida said he'll continue to be in the gym, as he helps training partners Samuel Sanches and Felipe Franco prepare for their Sept. 9 bouts on Dana White's Contender Series. When the phone rings, Almeida said he'll be ready. If it's Volkov next, Almeida will be content. If it's Aspinall, he thinks he'll prove to the world who the best heavyweight is.
"Aspinall is an extremely talented fighter," Almeida said. "We've seen him grapple. We've seen him boxing. Everything is very on point with him. He's one of the best that is out there. We haven't seen him deal with pressure. I think now with Volkov, he did a little, maybe. But he wasn't able to get through with it. I think if anybody is going to be able to do it, it's going to be me. I believe I can neutralize him. Once I have control of him, I can put pressure and possibly even get a finish. I'd work really hard toward that because that's my style. As talented as he is, we have to still see how good his defensive side is. If it's not up to par, then I can probably get a finish either by strikes or by submission.
"There's only one way for us to find out and that's to match the fight. That's the thing. If I do get a title fight, you can expect me to be fighting for my life. I'll give everything I have and more to get out of there with the title. This is a long dream of mine and if I do get the opportunity from the UFC, I can guarantee they're going to be happy with what they get."
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