Career
Almeida is a fourth degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie, and part of the Gracie Barra combat and competition team Almeida is a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Grapplers Quest, and a former Middleweight King of Pancrase. In Pancrase he had notable wins over Nate Marquardt and Kazuo Misaki.
Almeida trains with and teaches former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar at his longtime Gracie system gym in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Hiatus
Then, he fought in the Welterweight division of the UFC, and retired in 2011.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
His return bout in the UFC occurred at UFC 81, where he submitted Rob Yundt at 1:08 in the first round. Almeida"s next fight was against Patrick Cote at UFC 86, where he lost a close split decision.
Almeida returned at UFC Fight Night: Condit versus Kampmann, this time on the preliminary card, to face Matt Horwich, winning by unanimous decision.
His next fight took place on August 8 in Philadelphia against Kendall Grove at UFC 101.
He was scheduled to fight Jon Fitch at UFC 106 but had to withdraw due to a knee injury suffered while training. Almeida faced Matt Brown on March 27, 2010 at UFC 111 in his welterweight debut. Almeida defeated Brown by rear naked choke at 2:30 in round 2.
Almeida faced TJ Grant on December 11, 2010 at UFC 124.
Almeida defeated Grant by unanimous decision. Almeida faced Mike Pyle on March 19, 2011 at UFC 128.
He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Retirement
He added that he would continue to support the UFC and teammates such as Frankie Edgar and Kris McCray.
Mobile Marketing Association Judge
A week after his retirement, Almeida became a professional Mobile Marketing Association judge in New Jersey.
On May 5, 2012, he made his major-event debut as a judge at the UFC on FOX 3 card at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
ADCC 2003 88–98 kg: 4th place
ADCC 2001 88–98 kg: 2nd place Openweight: 4th place
ADCC 2000 Openweight: 3rd place
ADCC 1999 88–98 kg: 3rd place
ADCC 1998 88–98 kg: 2nd place
CBJJ Pan American Championships
1999 Brown Belt pesado: 1st Place
CBJJ Brazilian Championships
1997 Brown Belt Pesado: 1st Place
1996 Purple Belt Médio: 1st Place Purple Belt Open Weight: 3rd Place
IBJJF Pan American Number-Gi Championship
2012 Black belt Meio-Pesado: 1st Place
IBJJF Number-Gi Worlds Championship
2013 Black Belt Masters: 1st Place.