Jailton would rule the LHW division

[andgonsil]

If MW Paul Craig finished the champion, imagine what Malhadinho would do

 

[ThaiSexPills]

He’d do well but Ank has grown a lot since then too

 

[wufabufa]

UFC probably pays him a nice differential to stay on HW considering how laughably thin the division is. They need him at HW a lot more than they do at LHW.

 

[TheBulge]

He’d do well but Ank has grown a lot since then too

It kinda seems like he has regressed in both his striking and grappling.

 

[ThaiSexPills]

It kinda seems like he has regressed in both his striking and grappling.

I’m not sure I believe that. He went on to win a belt since then and Craig hasn’t done much.

 

[Thy]

maybe if he worked out a lil more and worked on muscles.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Jailton is overrated, spivac reversed him and had success grappling him and curtis exploited his predictable style. Couldn't finish derrick lewis and just laid on him for 5 rounds

 

[ComfortablyNumb55]

Craig got lucky and would never beat Big Ank again.

 

[TheBulge]

I’m not sure I believe that. He went on to win a belt since then and Craig hasn’t done much.

It depends on how you see it. He has developed a much safer risk-free style which has gotten him far, but he had a more dynamic striking with vicious knockouts and he could aggressively take fights to the ground at will when he decided to. I do realize his level of competition has gotten better but still.

 

[NoSmilez]

It is probably more comfortable for him to stay at HW. The pay is much better and he doesn't have to cut weight.

 

[Versez]

If MW Paul Craig finished the champion, imagine what Malhadinho would do

Jailton striking isnt very good, jiri and Ankalaev would maul him.

 

[Ares Black]

Ankalaev would beat the shit out of him

 

[Human Bass]

I've always said. He can easily outgrapple 265lbs, he would have very little problem against the current lhw crop

 

[Typrune Goatley]

Jailton is overrated, spivac reversed him and had success grappling him and curtis exploited his predictable style. Couldn't finish derrick lewis and just laid on him for 5 rounds

Spivac is a good grappler himself. He also has great takedowns from the clinch due to his sambo/judo background.

Jailton was dominating Blaydes until he got rocked.

I was very disappointed in him just laying on Lewis though. He dominated Lewis positionally but he wasn't throwing enough strikes and wasn't going for enough submission attempts. Of course Lewis is a really hard guy to hold down but I still think Jailton could have done more in that fight.

Jailton is what he is. He is good. He is not perfect but he is one of the better heavyweights

 

[laleggenda27]

Fun fact: Jailton turned pro as WW.

My guess is that the HW landscape looked easier when he made the move to HW (May 2022). Francis was leaving the UFC, Stipe was clearly retired, Jones hadn't moved up, and Aspinall was still just a rising contender. The top guy left was Gane, whom Jailton probably thought was a favorable matchup.

Then Aspinall and Jones enter the chat and change everything.

 

[Thesnake101]

It depends on how you see it. He has developed a much safer risk-free style which has gotten him far, but he had a more dynamic striking with vicious knockouts and he could aggressively take fights to the ground at will when he decided to. I do realize his level of competition has gotten better but still.

It's the level of comp, brother. Paul Craig, especially back then when he was on the verge of being cut, was useless on the feet (still is for the most part tbh) and had no TDD since his whole game centered around his guard. Tyson Pedro ran him over on the mat in less than a round, that's why Ankalaev was able to do what he wanted for all but 10 seconds of the fight.

Since then we've seen him KO Cutelaba, Dalcha, Prachnio and Walker, it's only against tougher competition where he becomes more risk-adverse and in his last two the onus was more on his opponent willingly backing away from engagements and conceding the fight. Keep in mind that even back in Russia he was no stranger to going the distance. I don't think he's regressed or changed his game all that much tbh.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

Jailton is overrated, spivac reversed him and had success grappling him and curtis exploited his predictable style. Couldn't finish derrick lewis and just laid on him for 5 rounds

2 of those 3 fights went badly for him because those guys are +265lbs mammoths and their sheer size gassed him. Ank is not a giant.

 

[DougieJones]

Fabio Malhadinho?

 

[Gabe]

He got emphatically KOd by Blaydes a year ago. He needs to prove himself against a top 5 guy I think Pavlovich is perfect while Gane and Volkov run it back.