\u201cMalhadinho\u201d has saved the day.<\/p>\n
Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida is stepping in on just three weeks\u2019 notice to face Russia\u2019s Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Vegas 113<\/a> on Sat., Feb. 7, 2026, inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kuniev was originally scheduled to fight Ryan Spann before the bout fell through.<\/p>\n Brazilian reporter Leo Guimar\u00e3es was first to report the news, also revealing that Almeida recently re-signed with the UFC.<\/p>\n Almeida (22-4) will put his shiny No. 6 ranking on the line in a risky short-notice matchup. The Brazilian powerhouse saw his two-fight win streak snapped in his last outing, dropping a controversial split decision<\/a> to Alexander Volkov at UFC 321. Prior to that setback, \u201cMalhadinho\u201d rattled off back-to-back stoppage wins over Serghei Spivac (watch highlights<\/a>) and Alexander Romanov.<\/p>\n Now 34 years old, Almeida holds an impressive 8-2 record inside the Octagon, with his only UFC losses coming against elite competition in Curtis Blaydes and Volkov.<\/p>\n Kuniev (12-3-1) earned his UFC contract on Season 8 of Contender Series after knocking out Hugo Cunha, but his promotional debut was delayed nearly nine months due to multiple cancellations<\/a>. He finally made his Octagon debut against Blaydes at UFC Baku, losing a highly competitive split decision that snapped an 11-fight unbeaten streak.<\/p>\n Here is what UFC Vegas 112 looks like:<\/p>\n