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 Collection.
The 37-year-old Almeida received 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 closing run.
“I like the group and really feel very comfy combating within the pit,” Almeida informed MMA Combating. “MMA is superb, too, however I wish to go after the Karate Fight belt and perhaps go to MMA down the road. It could be wonderful 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 count on his inactivity beneath MMA guidelines to be a problem in the case of convincing UFC matchmakers to offer him a provide.
“I consider Karate Fight has sufficient energy to place me there, going to Contender Collection or straight to the UFC,” Almeida stated. “Karate Fight has grown lots by way of viewership. There’s no putting group with higher numbers proper now. And on the finish of the day, my efficiency is what issues. I’ve to get the job performed in there, and I’ll make it occur.”
Almeida is on the lookout for 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 fulfill someday this 12 months to unify the belts.
The Shotokan karate specialist follows the “dwell by the sword die, by the sword” mantra in his profession, going the gap solely twice in 11 MMA and Karate Fight bouts mixed. Payet is 2-0 with one no-contest beneath the KC banner, and Almeida desires at hand him his first knockout defeat within the pit.
“I used to be born to knock folks out,” Almeida stated with amusing. “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 model. That is my essence. After all, typically you may’t get the end as a result of there’s an awesome athlete in entrance of you, however that’s at all times the aim. If you happen to like that kind of adrenaline, watch my fights.”
