Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. After almost three years away from the Octagon, Brazilian
bantamweight Thomas
Almeida will finally make his return against Jonathan
Martinez at the featherweight division. “I’m really glad Martinez accepted that fight on such short
notice,” Almeida told Sherdog. “When I was in London, getting the
connecting flight to Abu Dhabi, [UFC matchmaker Sean] Shelby called
us telling [me] my opponent got [COVID-19]. I got really upset.
After almost the years away, after all the diet, the strong camp,
that was unbelievable. But Shelby told me, ‘don’t worry, you will
fight.’ And when I got in Abu Dhabi, he already got Martinez. The
only point is that he couldn’t reach bantamweight on time so I
accepted to fight in featherweight. What actually turned into being
an amazing experience.
“I don’t recall [ever being allowed to eat] an ice cream one month
before a fight, and here I was able to do that in the fight week,”
Almeida celebrated.
Despite the unexpected step up in weight and the subsequent
“amazing featherweight experience,” the bout did not change the
plans of his coach Diego Lima.
“With all anxiety involved in that return, that ended up being good
for us, but we know that Thomas’ category is bantamweight and, for
sure, that’s where he will be fighting next,“ Lima reiterated.
The
Chute Boxe head Lima also made many compliments about his
student, especially concerning Almeida’s work ethic.
“I would say Thomas is an MMA nerd. He is the first to arrive in
the train, last to leave and is always studying fights and
opponents. For sure he makes a head coach life easier.”
The “Chute Boxe nerd” guaranteed that the long time away from the
Octagon was crucial for him to become a different, and better
fighter.
“I used all this time to evolve in different areas,” Almeida
claimed. “Master Lima brought an Iranian wrestling coach to our
team that added a couple of new [skills] to my game. I use to be a
pretty predictable fighter; not anymore.”
When asked to choose a ranked fighter in case of win, Almeida
inadvertently confirmed that his technical evolution was not just
physical, but mental as well.
“Johnathan Martinez is such a tough opponent, left-handed, tough
knees and is a great challenge to my return. Thinking about anyone
but him would be a total lack of respect. One step each time,” the
Brazilian concluded.
UFC Fight Night 180 takes place on Oct. 17 at the Flash Forum
in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and it will be headlined by a
featherweight scrap between Brian
Ortega and Chan Sung
Jung. Serving in the co-main event is a women’s flyweight tilt
as Jessica
Andrade moves to flyweight to take on Katlyn
Chookagian. Earlier on in the main card, Almeida comes to blows
with Martinez at featherweight.
