Rising star Thomas Almeida expects to lose in Las Vegas, but not when he enters the Octagon

Thomas Almeida will compete in Las Vegas for the first time in his MMA career, but he’s not 100 percent confident going to Sin City.

Undefeated in 18 professional fights, with 17 finishes under his belt, Almeida plans on stopping Brad Pickett at UFC 189, scheduled for July 11 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but the rising Chute Boxe star expects to lose some money when he tries to gamble at the casinos.

“When I won the Legacy FC title in Louisiana, I fought inside a casino,” Almeida told MMAFighting.com. “That was the first time I entered a casino in my life, and I had no idea how it worked. To be honest, I still have no idea how to gamble. I bet two dollars and lost, so I just watched others play. I didn’t win anything. I suck [laughs].”

“Thominhas” might risk one or two dollars, but won’t touch the $100,000 he made with two post-fight bonuses in the UFC. He’s not in Las Vegas to lose. Fighting in the main card of UFC 189, Almeida feels honored to be part of one of the biggest cards of the year.

“Las Vegas is the Mecca of MMA. That’s where the big cards happen, so it’s an honor for me to fight there,” he said. “The UFC believes in me, they put me in the biggest card of the year, so that motivates me even more to go there and put on a show. They like my fighting style, and this style sells well. I want to brawl all the time, being aggressive all the time. Fans loved my last fight, and they put me in the main card again. I’ll keep winning so one day I’ll get the belt.”

While Almeida looks to go 19-0 in MMA, Pickett attempts to get back on track in his return to 135 pounds following a 1-2 run as a flyweight. “One Punch” holds wins over the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Damacio Page and Yves Jabouin during his UFC/WEC career, and Almeida doesn’t expect an easy win.

“He’s an experienced fighter, fought the best at 125 and 135, so it’s a great challenge for me,” “Thominhas” said. “This is a great opportunity for me to show the world who’s Thomas Almeida. I’m focused and hungry. It’s a great match-up. Both fighters like to brawl, walk forward all the time, so it has everything to be the best fight of the night.

“I believe he’s coming hungrier because of those recent losses, so it makes this fight even tougher,” he continued. “He’s a great fighter, a veteran, so I can’t let that interfere on my performance. I have to take this fight as if it was the last fight of my life and do my best in there.”

Pickett scored 17 of his 24 wins via stoppage, and Almeida expects him to go for takedowns after getting tagged standing.

“He usually goes for takedowns when he gets hit hard, and he has good takedowns, likes to ground and pound, but I’m ready,” he said. “My opponents will always try to take me down eventually and I have to be ready to trade punches, stop takedowns, and use my jiu-jitsu as well. I have to be ready for everything all the time.”

Winner of two post-fight bonuses in the UFC, Almeida eyes another $50,000 after stopping Pickett at UFC 189.

“I want another knockout,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in the first, second or third round. I want to finish the fight.”

Thomas Almeida will compete in Las Vegas for the first time in his MMA career, but he’s not 100 percent confident going to Sin City.

Undefeated in 18 professional fights, with 17 finishes under his belt, Almeida plans on stopping Brad Pickett at UFC 189, scheduled for July 11 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but the rising Chute Boxe star expects to lose some money when he tries to gamble at the casinos.

“When I won the Legacy FC title in Louisiana, I fought inside a casino,” Almeida told MMAFighting.com. “That was the first time I entered a casino in my life, and I had no idea how it worked. To be honest, I still have no idea how to gamble. I bet two dollars and lost, so I just watched others play. I didn’t win anything. I suck [laughs].”

“Thominhas” might risk one or two dollars, but won’t touch the $100,000 he made with two post-fight bonuses in the UFC. He’s not in Las Vegas to lose. Fighting in the main card of UFC 189, Almeida feels honored to be part of one of the biggest cards of the year.

“Las Vegas is the Mecca of MMA. That’s where the big cards happen, so it’s an honor for me to fight there,” he said. “The UFC believes in me, they put me in the biggest card of the year, so that motivates me even more to go there and put on a show. They like my fighting style, and this style sells well. I want to brawl all the time, being aggressive all the time. Fans loved my last fight, and they put me in the main card again. I’ll keep winning so one day I’ll get the belt.”

While Almeida looks to go 19-0 in MMA, Pickett attempts to get back on track in his return to 135 pounds following a 1-2 run as a flyweight. “One Punch” holds wins over the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Damacio Page and Yves Jabouin during his UFC/WEC career, and Almeida doesn’t expect an easy win.

“He’s an experienced fighter, fought the best at 125 and 135, so it’s a great challenge for me,” “Thominhas” said. “This is a great opportunity for me to show the world who’s Thomas Almeida. I’m focused and hungry. It’s a great match-up. Both fighters like to brawl, walk forward all the time, so it has everything to be the best fight of the night.

“I believe he’s coming hungrier because of those recent losses, so it makes this fight even tougher,” he continued. “He’s a great fighter, a veteran, so I can’t let that interfere on my performance. I have to take this fight as if it was the last fight of my life and do my best in there.”

Pickett scored 17 of his 24 wins via stoppage, and Almeida expects him to go for takedowns after getting tagged standing.

“He usually goes for takedowns when he gets hit hard, and he has good takedowns, likes to ground and pound, but I’m ready,” he said. “My opponents will always try to take me down eventually and I have to be ready to trade punches, stop takedowns, and use my jiu-jitsu as well. I have to be ready for everything all the time.”

Winner of two post-fight bonuses in the UFC, Almeida eyes another $50,000 after stopping Pickett at UFC 189.

“I want another knockout,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in the first, second or third round. I want to finish the fight.”