The rising Jailton Almeida returns to action at UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane in Abu Dhabi, where he will face Alexander Volkov. Having already established a strong reputation with dominant wins, ‘Malhadinho’ is closing in on title contention. While Jailton’s rise to heavyweight continues to generate buzz, many fans are intrigued about another UFC fighter with the same surname, Cesar Almeida. The two Brazilians have gained attention not only for their performance inside the Octagon but also for their shared surname, which has raised the question: Are they brothers?

Who Is Jailton Almeida? The heavyweight grappler from Salvador

Jailton Almeida, aka “Malhadinho,” is a Brazilian heavyweight mixed martial artist known for his power, stamina, and diverse skill set. Born on June 26, 1991, in Salvador, Bahia, he currently fights for the Galpão da Luta team outside Brazil. Standing 1.91 meters tall and weighing around 106 kg, Almeida maintains an orthodox stance and has emerged as one of the most dangerous finishers in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

As of October 2025, Almeida has a 22-3 professional record, with 8 knockouts and 13 submission wins, a unique combination of striking and grappling prowess. His strong ground control and finishing instincts have earned him several Performance of the Night bonuses, cementing his reputation as one of the division’s most entertaining fighters.

Some of his recent victories include TKOs against Serghei Spivac and Curtis Blaydes, as well as a unanimous decision over Derrick Lewis. ‘Malhadinho’ is currently ranked fifth in the UFC heavyweight division, and his fight against Alexander Volkov at UFC 321 might put him one step closer to a title shot. Known for his toughness and unrelenting pace, Almeida perfectly embodies Brazil’s fighting legacy: fierce, tactical, and not afraid to throw or take a punch. But is he the brother of Cesar Almeida? Well, that’s a big no.

Who is Cesar Almeida? The kickboxing middleweight from São Paulo

Unlike ‘Malhadinho’, Cesar Almeida, often known as “Cesinha,” began in kickboxing before moving on to mixed martial arts. Growing up in the harsh neighborhood of Parque Edu Chaves in São Paulo, he learned to fight instinctively. Cesar, who had originally planned to become a civil engineer, was inspired by Brazilian kickboxers competing in Japan and decided to change his career path.

He went on to have an outstanding kickboxing record, with 47 wins (27 by knockout) in 57 bouts, 8 defeats, 1 draw, and 1 no contest. His professional accomplishments include the WGP Cruiserweight Championship (2018) and the SUPERKOMBAT Light Heavyweight Plus title (2016), as well as a famous fight with current UFC champion Alex Pereira, whom he defeated once in three meetings.

Cesar turned to MMA with quick success, winning a UFC contract in 2023 after defeating Lucas Fernando on Dana White’s Contender Series. He’s one of the most intriguing strikers in the UFC middleweight division, known for his fast striking and calm demeanor. Despite sharing a nationality and surname, Jailton and Cesar Almeida are not related.

The similarity in their names, combined with their simultaneous rise in the UFC, caused fans to get confused. Both competitors come from different parts of Brazil and have quite different martial arts backgrounds: one from Jiu-Jitsu and grappling, the other from world-class kickboxing. However, together, they show the breadth of Brazilian talent thriving in the UFC today. So, will we get to see some of this Brazilian class at UFC 321? Let us know in the comments below.