Dana White Echoes Fans’ Delight Over ‘Lay And Pray’ Fighter Losing at UFC 321

Dana White applauds the judges' decision after Jailton Almeida loses unanimously against Alexander Volkov at UFC 321.

Dana White Echoes Fans’ Delight Over ‘Lay And Pray’ Fighter Losing at UFC 321

Dana White talks about Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida at UFC 321 (via Sportspro, MMA Fighting)

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The scoring of the Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida fight attracted attention due to the style clash between a grapple-heavy approach and a striking-oriented response. The outcome reaffirmed the regulatory framework under which rounds are awarded based on effective offense rather than time in position control. UFC CEO Dana White recently applauded the judges’ scoring at UFC 321.

White has repeatedly described mixed martial arts as an entertainment product built on action and competitive urgency. Over the years, he has positioned the UFC as a sport that has delivered a higher level of spectacle than traditional combat sports under longer rule sets. His public messaging has consistently favoured athletes who engage in offence-driven contests.

Volkov secured a split decision victory over Almeida at UFC 321. ‘Malhadinho’ shot for a takedown as soon as the fight began and held the top position. While Almeida had more top-control time, Volkov remained active on the back; the judges considered damage and activity when scoring the victory. White commended the judges’ scoring and analysis in the post-fight interview.

You can’t win a fight by just laying on top of somebody. That’s not how it works. I was actually very happy with the way the judges scored that fight.

Dana White via UFC 321 post fight presser

Almeida has built the majority of his career success through a grappling-centric approach rooted in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This reliance drew criticism, particularly in his bout against Derrick Lewis, where extended periods of top control without significant offensive escalation led to debate. White was vocal about his disappointment with that fight and called the Lewis bout a “forgettable performance.”

Control time by itself is not scored as a winning action unless it enables effective offense. A recent example was Khamzat Chimaev’s win over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, where prolonged grappling sequences were accompanied by positional advancement and scoring actions. This distinguished it from the Volkov vs Almeida fight in which top control was maintained without a material offensive outcome.

With contenders jockeying for relevance beneath the title line, bouts that produce clear and damage-based victories are expected to gain higher matchmaking priority. This reinforces both the competitive and promotional stakes that shape the division’s trajectory, aligning with Dana White’s long-standing emphasis on rewarding fighters whose performances generate decisive and entertaining outcomes.

Fans react to Dana White’s comments about the Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida bout at UFC 321

The aftermath of the UFC 321 heavyweight bout between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida triggered a broad spectrum of responses online, with many fans immediately debating the verdict and Dana White’s public stance on the outcome. The discourse quickly expanded beyond the fight itself and, surprisingly, in a rare instance, saw the MMA community praising the judging of a fight.

Dana White
Dana White (via Reuters)

A section of fans applauded Dana White for reinforcing the idea that holding an opponent without a meaningful threat should not be enough to secure a decision. Others argued the opposite and believed Almeida technically did enough to win through positional dominance, yet still supported the judges’ call on the basis that such wins should not be rewarded when no damage is produced.

The debate extended further as some fans questioned why the Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis fight at UFC 319 was not judged under the same lens of control versus damage. In those replies, others countered that Chimaev not only controlled positions but also attempted submissions, and continued striking throughout, which created measurable offense absent in Jailton Almeida’s performance.

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