Jailton Almeida Dominates Serghei Spivac in Heavyweight Clash at UFC 328

On December 20, 2025, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, hosted UFC 328: Almeida vs. Spivac, where Jailton “Malhadinho” Almeida solidified his heavyweight contender status with a second-round submission via rear-naked choke over Serghei Spivac at 3:55. Almeida, the Brazilian grappling phenom, controlled 8:45 of the fight with suffocating top pressure and landed 48 of 82 significant strikes (59% accuracy) before locking in the choke. Spivac, the Moldovan wrestler, threatened early with takedowns but landed only 32 of 68 strikes (47%), dropping to 17-5. The 16,000-strong crowd, a mix of LA fight fans and Brazilian supporters, erupted as Almeida’s dominance shone, chanting “Mal-ha-di-nho!” in the state-of-the-art arena. Airing live on ESPN+ at 10:00 p.m. ET for the main card, this headliner, part of a card featuring Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena in welterweight, delivered a grappling masterclass, with X posts like @UFC tweeting, “Almeida’s a heavyweight nightmare—Spivac tapped out!” This top-10 bout propelled Almeida toward a title shot against Tom Aspinall, while Spivac’s resilience kept him in the division’s elite.

Fight Overview

The Almeida vs. Spivac main event anchored UFC 328’s main card, a 12-fight event with prelims at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the main card at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Slated for around 10:00 p.m. ET, the three-round bout served as a heavyweight eliminator, with the winner eyeing champ Tom Aspinall in 2026. Almeida, the -200 favorite (BetMGM), entered with a 6-1 UFC record, while Spivac, at +170, aimed to rebound from his 2024 loss to Ciryl Gane. X hype was intense, with @MMABuzzX tweeting, “Almeida’s BJJ vs. Spivac’s wrestling—ground war in LA,” and @CageVibeX predicting a “sub before Round 3.” The Intuit Dome’s 16,000 fans, fueled by LA’s fight-week festivities like fan expos at LA Live and beach watch parties in Santa Monica, created an electric vibe. Fan predictions split 60% for Almeida’s grappling and 40% for Spivac’s upset, per @SkyBet polls, with the bout billed as a clash of Eastern European and Brazilian ground games.

Jailton Almeida: The 34-year-old from Salvador, Brazil, entered with a 22-3 record (8-1 UFC), including 18 submissions. At 6’3” with a 79-inch reach, the orthodox fighter’s 5.8 takedowns per fight and 4.2 significant strikes per minute (UFC Stats) define his jiu-jitsu base. His 2025 submission of Curtis Blaydes showcased his transitions. Trained at Brazilian Top Team, X clips show Almeida drilling chokes with Fabricio Werdum. @MMAJunkie notes, “Almeida’s a submission machine—heavyweight’s dark horse.”

Serghei Spivac: The 30-year-old from Chișinău, Moldova, carried a 17-4 record (8-4 UFC), with 8 knockouts and 7 submissions. At 6’3” with a 78-inch reach, the southpaw’s 4.1 takedowns per fight and 50% striking accuracy (UFC Stats) highlight his wrestling. His 2025 decision over Marcin Tybura marked his return. Training at Polar Bear Team, X footage shows Spivac sharpening sprawls. @BetsMMAX tweets, “Spivac’s +170 odds scream value—his power could shock.”

The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1: The Inglewood crowd roars as Almeida opens with a jab, circling Spivac’s southpaw stance. Spivac shoots for a double-leg at 1:10, securing brief control for 1:20, but Almeida reverses, landing in mount for 2:00 with elbows. Almeida’s transitions dominate, landing 25 of 42 significant strikes to Spivac’s 15 of 32 (UFC Stats). @UFC scores it 10-9 Almeida, tweeting, “Malhadinho’s reversals are elite early.”

Round 2: Spivac starts aggressively, landing a body kick at 0:45, but Almeida counters with a single-leg at 1:30, transitioning to back control. Spivac defends the initial choke, but Almeida adjusts, sinking the rear-naked choke at 3:55 as Spivac taps. Almeida lands 23 of 40 strikes in the round. @SherdogX confirms the submission, tweeting, “Almeida’s a grappler’s dream—LA goes wild!”

Key Moments and Impact

• Almeida’s Transitions: His 4 takedowns and 8:45 control time neutralized Spivac, landing 48 of 82 significant strikes (59%) to Spivac’s 32 of 68 (47%). @MMAVibeX tweeted, “Almeida’s BJJ is next-level—submission clinic.”
• Spivac’s Early Takedown: His 1:20 control showed threat, with @BetsX365 noting, “Serghei started strong, but faded.”
• Second-Round Choke: The RNC sealed it, per @FightFanX: “Almeida’s adjustment was perfect—title shot earned.”
• Fan Reaction: Intuit Dome’s 16,000 fans chanted for the tap, with X splitting 65% for Almeida (@UFC_Brazil: “Malhadinho’s rising”) and 35% for Spivac’s grit (@showtimebets67: “Serghei’s tough”).

Post-Fight Analysis and Implications

In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Almeida called for Tom Aspinall, stating, “Heavyweight belt next—let’s go!” His ninth UFC win, including a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, vaults him to No. 3 contender. His 5.8 takedown average and 59% striking accuracy highlight his versatility, though Spivac’s early wrestling tested him. @TheAthleticMMA: “Almeida’s a title threat now.”

Spivac, gracious in defeat, told ESPN, “Jailton was better on the ground—I’ll learn.” His fifth loss (17-5) keeps him top-10, with X suggesting a rebound vs. Marcin Tybura. @maniacbetsmma: “Spivac’s still dangerous—needs striking volume.” Heavyweight heats up, with Aspinall and Alexander Volkov atop.

Event Context and Inglewood Atmosphere

UFC 328 dazzled with Muhammad’s decision over Della Maddalena and a KO by Shavkat Rakhmonov. Prelims featured a submission by Muhammad Mokaev. Intuit Dome’s 16,000 fans, amid LA Live expos and Santa Monica parties, created vibrant vibes. @UFC tweeted, “LA brings the heat!” 60% finish rate and ESPN+ success marked a classic.

What’s Next?

Almeida targets Aspinall at UFC 330; Spivac faces Tybura in February. Almeida’s submission cements his rise, with title dreams next.

Almeida vs. Spivac on December 20, 2025, saw Jailton Almeida submit Serghei Spivac in Round 2, his grappling control and 59% striking accuracy dominating the eliminator. Intuit Dome’s electric roar and stacked card amplified the stakes. As Almeida eyes Aspinall and Spivac rebounds, this defines heavyweight’s future.