What’s a new name in the heavyweight division to do when the top is so mapped out already? Jon Jones, the current champ, is out with an injury after he had been scheduled to face Stipe Miocic in a couple weeks. That led to Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich being booked to fight for the interim title, ranked No. 2 and No. 4 respectively.
For Jailton Almeida, the new kid on the block, breaking into the top of the division will require him to play the long game as the division sorts out.