Jailton Almeida is comfortable in both divisions and sees an ‘easier path’ to UFC heavyweight title.

After running through light heavyweights Nasrudin Nasrudinov and Danilo Marques in his two octagon appearances under the Contender Series and UFC banners, Jailton Almeida now faces a different challenge this Saturday at UFC Vegas 55.

With Maxim Grishin sidelined due to undisclosed reasons, “Malhadinho” agreed to move up a division and face heavyweight Parker Porter instead on May 21, and said on this week’s episode of MMA Fighting podcast Trocacao Franca that he’s more than comfortable competing in both weight classes.

“Even though I am at heavyweight, it is still cool for me,” Almeida stated. “I didn’t gain much weight. My natural weight is 227 pounds. I worked more on my speed since you lose a bit of speed [at heavyweight], but have more strength. I could do 205, at lightweight but not at heavyweight .”

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“I was talking to my coaches and my manager here, [Grishin] fights like Carlos ‘Boi’ [Felipe], a brawler that goes to war,” he continued. “He’s a heavyweight that doesn’t get tired doing his thing. However, I am very versatile in the wrestling area .”

Almeida sparred with heavyweights before his light heavyweight fights. He believes that he will feel the same when he is with Porter in Las Vegas.

Malhadinho, who was undefeated in Brazil’s heavyweight fights, doesn’t rule out a future in this division.

“We’ll study after this fight and see how it goes,” Almeida said. If I win, then I will study whether we can continue to heavyweight or drop down to 205.. … The heavyweight division really is more shallow. You can get the belt much quicker. With the type of game that I play .”

, it’s easier to get the belt.

Almeida predicts he will finish Porter in under 10 minutes at the UFC APEX, stopping him with ground-and-pound “or submitting him if he gives me an opening.”

Doing what he calls “the Khabib game,” an aggressive game inspired by former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, “with takedowns and always going for the finish,” “Malhadinho” believes he’s a horrible matchup for a lot of fighters at heavyweight.

Even Francis Ngannou, the man that currently sits at the UFC heavyweight throne?

“I would. Almeida stated that he believed he would. Almeida said, “Even though his feet are very dangerous, I think I’d be a bit .”

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