Twitter reacts to Jailton Almeida smothering Derrick Lewis in UFC Sao Paulo main event
By Adam Stocker
Jailton Almeida defeated Derrick Lewis via KO (50-44. 50-44, 50-45), at UFC Sao Paulo on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, live from the Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
"Remember yesterday he said he wanted a brawl but I gave you a show. We knew he has a heavy hand and we had a month to come up with a strategy for his right hand. I have a call out, I want Cyril Gane. It can be in Paris or El Salvador, I don't care," said Almeida
Almeida controlled the first round, using his grappling skills to take down Lewis and stay in full mount for nearly the entire round. The second round was more of the same. Lewis opened the third round with a few powerful punches before getting taken down again. Lewis was able to flip the table to get top position and landed a series of powerful punches. Almeida was able to get back into full mount and had a strong finish to the round. The fourth round again saw Almeida control the fight in full mount. In the fifth, Almeida took full mount but was again warned multiple times by referee Marc Goddard to work more. Ultimately, Lewis was unable to get his opportunity to land one of his trademark knockouts.
Several fighters watching the fight expected Lewis to come from behind to score a knockout. While others questioned why Almeida didn't throw more punches.
MMA Twitter reacts to disappointing UFC Sao Paulo main event
These are the type of fights Derrick Lewis wins ? Lose 24 minutes and 53 seconds , KOs opp with 7 seconds left 😂😂😂 #UFCbrazil
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 5, 2023
Has no one ever taught Almeida how to ground and pound??
— Funky (@Benaskren) November 5, 2023
Ok here comes a come from behind ko by Lewis 😭👏🏾
— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) November 5, 2023
I don’t understand why Almeida basically did nothing from mount. He’s giving the fight away. I think DL gets a KO in the next ten mins
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) November 5, 2023
Please don’t try to wrestle with him Lewis. And he tried and now he is mounted…. Again. I’m in shock 😂 #UFCSaoPaulo
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) November 5, 2023
Fighters had a different reaction on Twitter after watching 25 minutes of the main event.
At least we had the Darby fight tonight to give us some action
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) November 5, 2023
That was not it. #UFCSaoPaulo
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) November 5, 2023
Who had this going the distance . I knew I should’ve sprinkled a little $100 ! 😂😂😂 #ufcbrazil
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 5, 2023
We watch heavy weights for the ko’s 😭
— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) November 5, 2023
Did he just call out someone with no wrestling?
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) November 5, 2023
Almeida was originally scheduled to fight Curtis Blaydes. However, on Oct. 9, Blaydes was forced to pull out of the fight and was replaced by Lewis. Almeida entered the fight as the ninth ranked heavyweight, one spot ahead of Lewis.