UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida has given an interesting view on the public criticism of his loss to Alexander Volkov.
On Saturday night, Jailton Almeida returns to action when he squares off with Rizvan Kuniev in the heavyweight division. He’ll be hoping to get back in the win column following his latest outing, which saw him fall to a loss against fellow top contender Alexander Volkov.
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It’s safe to say that many weren’t happy with the way in which Almeida approached that fight, which has been true for a lot of his bouts in the UFC. Alas, he’s still viewed as someone who could one day earn a title shot, even if he isn’t a frontrunner in that group.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Almeida gave an interesting thought when discussing the criticism he’s received since losing to Volkov.
Almeida reflects on Volkov defeat
“I see that a lot of people talked about [the fight], saying they didn’t like it, that it was boring and all that, but they say that because I’m Brazilian, right?” Almeida told MMA Fighting. “If it were a foreigner everyone would like it. But life goes on. No matter what, we move forward. A lot of people who are talking wish they were where I am today. That’s how it is. We’re going to get criticism and praise. That’s life, and that’s why we choose this sport.”
“If one day the UFC says they don’t want me anymore, I’ll be very satisfied with what I did, what I didn’t do, what I lost, what I gained. That won’t change my life at all. Those who know me know my story. I wasn’t supposed to be an athlete today, I was supposed to be a drug dealer, following the path of my brother, but fortunately God put me on the right path and today I’m here, living this moment.”
Quotes via MMA Fighting
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