One notable UFC heavyweight contender who was passed over for Tom Aspinall’s first title defense has responded strongly to the recent announcement. After Jon Jones confirmed his retirement, Dana White finally scheduled the next match for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship, setting the stage for Tom Aspinall UFC title fight against Ciryl Gane.

Following a record-holding reign as interim champion, Aspinall was promoted to the undisputed title after Jones refused to fight him to unify the belts. Unlike his predecessor, Aspinall has promised to actively defend his belt. His first defense was confirmed by UFC President Dana White, who announced that Aspinall will face Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25.

Jailton Almeida Sets His Sights on Winner of Aspinall vs. Gane

Tom Aspinall previously indicated that Ciryl Gane “is due a beating,” making their showdown inevitable. Before this pairing, Jailton Almeida was scheduled to face Alexander Volkov, another former opponent of Aspinall’s, and both Almeida and Volkov were potential challengers for Aspinall’s title.

Now, Almeida and Volkov appear positioned to battle each other in what is expected to be a title eliminator, with the winner set to challenge Aspinall next. Despite being overlooked for the upcoming title fight, Almeida remains unfazed and positive about the direction of his career, responding enthusiastically on social media after the UFC 321 main event was announced.

Everything is moving along perfectly! I’m heading out, I’ll do my part and seal my title fight,

Almeida said.

I’m bringing this one home to Brazil, mark my words!

—Jailton Almeida, UFC heavyweight contender

Almeida’s Teammate Predicts He Will Defeat Aspinall

Should Jailton Almeida earn a shot at the belt, he would have massive support from Brazil, including from his teammate Eduarda Moura. Moura recently expressed confidence that Almeida is preparing to become a formidable rival capable of dethroning Tom Aspinall.

I believe ‘Malhadinho’ will be much better prepared for Aspinall because Aspinall will be the toughest fight of ‘Malhadinho’s’ career, of his entire life,

Moura said in an interview with MMA Fighting. She added that the extended time Almeida has had to prepare could make the difference in his performance when he eventually faces Aspinall.

According to Moura, Almeida is likely to rely on his wrestling skills.

I think ‘Malhadinho’ takes him down and catches him, for sure. Aspinall is dangerous, everybody knows that. He’s fast and has heavy hands, so I believe ‘Malhadinho’ will go for the takedown early — as he always does, as he loves doing.

I hope he takes him down and catches him quickly so our hearts don’t suffer too much [laughs],

Moura also remarked.

Implications for the UFC Heavyweight Division

The announcement of Tom Aspinall’s first title defense against Ciryl Gane sets a critical stage for the UFC heavyweight division, where several contenders are eager for their chance at the belt. Jailton Almeida’s determination to claim a future title shot injects further anticipation and tension into the rankings.

This matchup marks an important moment for Aspinall, who has vowed to maintain an active reign unlike his predecessor Jon Jones, who vacated without defending his title. Meanwhile, Almeida and Volkov’s upcoming clash is widely viewed as a direct eliminator to challenge the winner of the UFC 321 headliner.

Fans and insiders alike will be closely watching the outcomes of these bouts, as they signal the dawn of a new competitive era in the heavyweight division. Almeida’s promise to bring the belt “home to Brazil” and his teammate’s confidence underscore the hopeful aspirations that drive this rising contender forward.