Fast-rising bonus-collector Thomas Almeida inks new UFC deal

Thomas Almeida

Thomas Almeida, one of the more impressive recent additions to the UFC’s bantamweight division, has signed a new deal with the promotion.

The 24-year-old Brazilian’s rep, Wade Hampel of Big Fight Management, told MMAjunkie that Almedia has signed a new “five-fight extension.”

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Almeida (19-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), a former Legacy FC champion who turned pro in 2011, has 18 stoppages (including 15 knockouts) in 19 career wins. He made his UFC debut in late 2014 and has picked up a decision victory over Tim Gorman, which earned “Fight of the Night” honors, as well as knockout wins over Yves Jabouin and Brad Pickett, which both netted “Performance of the Night” bonuses.

Despite heavy competition, Almeida also picked up MMAjunkie’s “Fight of the Month” award for the Gorman victory and “Knockout of the Month” honors for the Pickett win, which came at the mega-UFC 189 event this past month.

Almeida, who’s ranked No. 15 in the NOS® Energy Drink MMA bantamweight rankings, currently awaits his next assignment.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.