Top-ranked heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida will collide in what could end being a title eliminator at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 25, multiple people with knowledge of the situation told MMA Fighting.
Contracts have yet to be signed but both sides have verbally agreed to meet in the U.A.E, sources said.
The UFC has yet to announce the main event for the company’s upcoming pay-per-view show at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena.
Volkov (38-11) and Almeida (22-3) were hoping to be next in line to challenge now undisputed champion Tom Aspinall after Jon Jones officially announced his retirement, but will instead face off for a top position in the rankings.
Volkov, who lost to Aspinall back in 2022, won four in a row after that with stoppages over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexandr Romanov and Tai Tuivasa, plus a dominant decision against Sergei Pavlovich, before losing a controversial split decision to Ciryl Gane this past December.
Almeida was victorious in his past two octagon appearances, finishing Romanov and Serghei Spivac inside one round, to rebound from the sole defeat in nine UFC showings, a defeat to Curtis Blaydes in March 2024.
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