LAS VEGAS — There was a lot of buzz surrounding Thomas Almeida's arrival to the UFC, and the 23-year-old Brazilian has lived up to the hype every step of the way.
While the bantamweight phenom's upcoming bout against Brad Pickett at UFC 189 on Saturday night will only be his third showing inside the Octagon, the up-and-coming prospect's resume already speaks volumes. Almeida has found victory in each of his 19 bouts as a professional, with only one of his opponents surviving to see the scorecards.
Furthermore, only three men who have faced him managed to make it out of the opening round, and Almeida's knack for settling the opposition has served to bolster the excitement surrounding him.