Jailton Almeida is ready to begin the next chapter of his career after parting ways with the UFC earlier this year. The former heavyweight contender has wasted little time securing a new opportunity as he recently announced he will be headlining ACA 207 on September 12. Almeida is set to face former ACA heavyweight champion Evgeny Goncharov in Krasnodar, Russia.
The matchup marks a fresh start for Almeida, who was once viewed as one of the UFC heavyweight division’s brightest prospects.
Before his release, Jailton Almeida built an impressive résumé inside the Octagon. The Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus won his first six UFC appearances, earning victories over notable names such as Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Shamil Abdurakhimov. He later added wins over Serghei Spivac and Alexander Romanov, further cementing his status as a legitimate title contender.
However, momentum shifted following a knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299. Almeida then dropped back-to-back controversial decisions against Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev. When his contract expired earlier this year, the UFC opted not to offer a new deal.
Despite the setback, Jailton Almeida quickly attracted interest on the free-agent market and signed with Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), one of Russia’s premier MMA organizations.His debut won’t come against an easy opponent.
Goncharov enters the fight riding an eight-fight unbeaten run and remains one of the most accomplished heavyweights in ACA history. Since joining the promotion in 2019, the former champion has built an impressive record while earning victories over Tony Johnson Jr., Khadis Ibragimov, and Adam Bogatyrev.
The Russian veteran has held the ACA heavyweight title multiple times and will look to derail Almeida’s comeback before it begins.
For Jailton Almeida, this fight represents more than just a debut. It’s an opportunity to prove he still belongs among the elite heavyweights in the sport.
Although his grappling-heavy style often divided fans during his UFC run, Almeida consistently found ways to win. He compiled an 8-3 record in the promotion and headlined multiple events, establishing himself as a legitimate threat in a division that continues to search for fresh contenders.
At one point, many viewed Almeida as a future UFC title challenger. While that path temporarily came to an end, a strong run in ACA could quickly change the narrative.
The heavyweight landscape remains thin, and fighters who string together quality wins often find themselves back on the UFC’s radar sooner rather than later.
For now, though, Jailton Almeida is focused on snapping his two-fight losing streak and making a statement in his new home. A victory over Goncharov would be the perfect way to begin that journey and remind the MMA world why he was once considered one of the heavyweight division’s most promising contenders.
