Weber Almeida hasn’t entered an MMA cage since August 2023, however he’s assured a knockout streak within the Karate Fight pit will safe him a shot within the UFC or Dana White’s Contender Sequence.
The 37-year-old Almeida gained 5 of seven beneath the Bellator banner in a span of 4 years, together with 4 knockouts, and has since scored back-to-back stoppages at Karate Fight. A Lyoto Machida protégé, Almeida feels “the pit was made for me,” however doesn’t rule out going again to the cage for one last run.
“I like the group and really feel very snug preventing within the pit,” Almeida informed MMA Combating. “MMA is superb, too, however I need to go after the Karate Fight belt and perhaps go to MMA down the road. It might be glorious to finish my profession with some fights within the UFC, however my focus proper now’s to win the Karate Fight belt.”
Almeida is scheduled to face Jeremy Payet at Friday’s KC 53 in Denver, and doesn’t anticipate his inactivity beneath MMA guidelines to be a difficulty with regards to convincing UFC matchmakers to present him a provide.
“I imagine Karate Fight has sufficient energy to place me there, going to Contender Sequence or straight to the UFC,” Almeida mentioned. “Karate Fight has grown lots when it comes to viewership. There’s no placing group with higher numbers proper now. And on the finish of the day, my efficiency is what issues. I’ve to get the job carried out in there, and I’ll make it occur.”
Almeida is in search of an enormous win Friday to cement his place because the No. 1 contender within the light-weight division, with Karate Fight champion Luiz Rocha and interim titleholder Shahzaib Rind anticipated to satisfy someday this yr to unify the belts.
The Shotokan karate specialist follows the “reside by the sword die, by the sword” mantra in his profession, going the space solely twice in 11 MMA and Karate Fight bouts mixed. Payet is 2-0 with one no-contest beneath the KC banner, and Almeida needs at hand him his first knockout defeat within the pit.
“I used to be born to knock folks out,” Almeida mentioned with fun. “I am going for the knockout from begin to end. I’m not the kind of fighter that fights to attain factors. I am going for the end, Shotokan fashion. That is my essence. In fact, typically you’ll be able to’t get the end as a result of there’s a terrific athlete in entrance of you, however that’s at all times the aim. When you like that sort of adrenaline, watch my fights.”
