If Thomas Almeida didn’t know that the UFC held him in the highest regard before, he found out during the festivities at UFC 194. Before the pay-per-view aired on Saturday night, the undefeated 24-year-old Brazilian found himself in the company of champions Holly Holm, Robbie Lawler, Fabricio Werdum, and TJ Dillashaw — as well as former champion Cain Velasquez, Dominick Cruz — as part of an ultimate media day.
Almeida (20-0), a bantamweight who has fought four times in the UFC since debuting in 2014, has scored finishes in his last three fights.