In a major heavyweight rebooking, Curtis Blaydes is set to square off against Jailton Almeida at UFC 299 in the first quarter of next year, according to sources confirmed by ESPN on Tuesday. While the UFC is yet to make an official announcement, sources reveal that the bout has been signed. Although UFC 299's official date and location remain unconfirmed, the event is scheduled for March.
ESPN's heavyweight rankings position Blaydes at No. 5 and Almeida at No. 8 globally. Initially slated to face off on Nov. 4 in the main event of UFC Sao Paulo, the bout was disrupted when Blaydes withdrew for undisclosed reasons, leading to Derrick Lewis stepping in as a replacement.
Blaydes (17-4, 1 NC) recently experienced a knockout loss to Sergei Pavlovich in April, breaking a three-fight winning streak. The 32-year-old, based in the Chicago area, has encountered defeats only from power punchers Pavlovich, Francis Ngannou, and Lewis in his seven-year UFC career.
Almeida (20-2) boasts an impressive 15-fight win streak, including his first six victories in the UFC. Coming off a unanimous decision win over Lewis last month, the 32-year-old Brazilian had never gone to a decision in his 11-year career.
UFC 299's main event will feature a bantamweight championship clash between Sean O'Malley and Marlon "Chito" Vera. Additionally, the card will showcase a matchup between former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos and Mateusz Gamrot, as announced by the promotion on Tuesday. MMA Fighting initially reported this development.