Derrick Lewis has stepped in to face Jailton Almeida in a main event matchup between top-ten-ranked heavyweights.
On November 4, the UFC returns to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for a fight night event featuring various Brazilian fighters. In the main event, number nine-ranked Jailton Almeida was scheduled to face number five-ranked Curtis Blaydes, with Almeida hoping to enter the title picture with a win.
Unfortunately, Blaydes pulled out with an injury, putting Almeida’s hometown appearance in jeopardy.
The Brazilian fans don’t have to panic, as number ten-ranked Derrick Lewis has signed on as the replacement opponent, first reported by AgFight.
In July of this year, Lewis ended his three-fight losing streak by securing a 33-second knockout win against Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Derrick Lewis defeats Marcos Rogerio De Lima in round 1 by KO, who expected Derrick Lewis to start off with this beautiful flying knee? pic.twitter.com/hXUUtmE4j1
— Fight King (@BestFightKing) September 15, 2023
The viral flying knee to ground and pound finish led to a new contract for ‘The Black Beast.’ He now looks to capitalize on Blaydes’ injury by defeating Almeida and becoming a legitimate contender in the division.
Meanwhile, Jailton Almeida has been unbeatable since making his UFC debut in February 2022. The Brazilian fought in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions before settling on the latter.
Since then, he’s secured wins inside the distance against Shamil Abdurakhimov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
It’ll be intriguing to see if Almeida can continue building momentum by defeating the fighter with the most KO/TKO wins in promotional history.
What’s at stake between Derrick Lewis and Jailton Almeida?
On November 11, Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic. Regardless of the result, the expectation is for both fighters to retire in the near future, leading to a new chapter in the heavyweight division.
If Jones and Miocic decide to retire, the following fighters would be in the mix for a vacant title fight – Tom Aspinall, Sergei Pavlovich, and Ciryl Gane.
Depending on how everything plays out, the winner of Jailton Almeida vs. Derrick Lewis could be one win away from a title shot. Therefore, both heavyweights will be extra motivated to secure a win on November 4 and potentially lock up a number-one contender matchup.
Before worrying about what’s next, Almeida and Lewis must find a way to avoid danger and emerge victorious inside the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
