LAS VEGAS — There was a lot of buzz surrounding Thomas Almeida's arrival to the UFC, and the 23-year-old Brazilian has lived up to the hype every step of the way.
While the bantamweight phenom's upcoming bout against Brad Pickett at UFC 189 on Saturday night will only be his third showing inside the Octagon, the up-and-coming prospect's resume already speaks volumes. Almeida has found victory in each of his 19 bouts as a professional, with only one of his opponents surviving to see the scorecards.
Furthermore, only three men who have faced him managed to make it out of the opening round, and Almeida's knack for settling the opposition has served to bolster the excitement surrounding him. His ability to not only win fights but do so in spectacular fashion has many in the MMA community following his rise through the ranks of the 135-pound collective.
Even UFC President Dana White has been singing Almeida's praises, and getting the UFC front man's attention is something he takes pride in.
"I'm always looking for a knockout in my fights, and I think that is what people love to see the most," Almeida told Bleacher Report with the assistance of a translator. "I try to give them that every time I fight. People seem to really like my style. It is also very important to have the boss saying good things about you."
After drubbing veteran Yves Jabouin in his last fight at UFC 186 back in April, Almeida made it clear he was ready for bigger tests. And that is what many believe his bout with the hard-charging British slugger will represent.
However, Almeida isn't focusing on the challenges Pickett will bring him inside the Octagon but the chance to showcase his skills on the biggest card of the year at UFC 189.
"This is a big event," Almeida said. "It is one of the biggest in UFC history, and there are a lot of great fighters on this card. What motivates me the most in this fight is that I'm the only Brazilian fighter on this card, and it is on me to represent my culture. There is a lot of expectation on me because people love the way I fight, and that's exactly how I want it to be.
"I am going to rise to the occasion and showcase my skills on Saturday night. I really want to show the world who Thomas Almeida is."
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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