Júnior Albini (born 15 March 1991) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Júnior Albini
Born (1991-03-15) 15 March 1991 (age 33)
Paranagua, Parana, Brazil
Other namesBaby
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight266 lb (121 kg; 19.0 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Reach74.0 in (188 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofParnagua, Piauí, Brazil
TeamAstra Fight Team
RankBrown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1]
Purple belt in Luta Livre[1]
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins17
By knockout9
By submission6
By decision2
Losses6
By knockout2
By submission3
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Early life

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Albini started boxing at 13 years old to lose weight. At that time he weighed over 350 lb (160 kg; 25 st).[1]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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Albini made his professional debut in August 2009. Over the next seven years he fought fifteen times and amassed a record of 13-2; 11 of his 13 wins came by stoppage.[2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Albini made his promotional debut in the UFC against 11th ranked opponent Timothy Johnson at UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum.[3] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[4] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus of US$50 thousand.[5] At the post fight interview, Albini was pleased with the prize money where he stated he now was in the position to buy real toys for his daughter.[6]

It's so much money. I've never seen that kind of money. I was never able to buy her (his daughter) a toy or something like that. All of her toys were like shampoos, empty bottles, because we didn't have much money. My wife was following my dream, too, together, so it means a lot to me right now that I can make a living and give back to them what they suffered together with me – the pursuing of this dream.[6]

Albini faced Andrei Arlovski at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis on 11 November 2017.[7] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[8]

Albini faced Aleksei Oleinik on 12 May 2018, at UFC 224.[9] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.[10]

Albini was scheduled to face Dmitry Sosnovskiy on 2 February 2019, at UFC Fight Night 144.[11] However, Sosnovskiy pulled out of the fight in early January after undergoing surgery to correct a recent injury. Albini instead faced promotional newcomer Jairzinho Rozenstruik.[12] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round, the first TKO loss of his MMA career.[13]

Albini faced Maurice Greene on 29 June 2019 at UFC on ESPN 3.[14] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[15]

In January 2020, it was reported that Albini was released by UFC.[16]

Post-UFC career

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After the stint in the UFC, Albini made his first appearance against Adnan Alić at Serbian Battle Championship 27 on 14 March 2020. He won the fight via knockout less than a minute into round one.[17]

Albini next faced Gabriel Kanabo at Warriors Combat - on 30 July 2021. He won the fight via knockout in round one.

Albini faced Davi Lucas da Silva at AFT 30 on 31 August 2021. He won the bout via TKO in round one.[18]

Personal life

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Albini is married and has a daughter.[19] Before signing with the UFC, Albini worked full-time as a security guard.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
23 matches 17 wins 6 losses
By knockout 9 2
By submission 6 3
By decision 2 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 17–6 Davi Lucas da Silva TKO AFT 30 30 August 2021 1 2:35 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 16–6 Gabriel Kanabo KO Warriors Combat - 30 July 2021 1 2:15 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 15–6 Adnan Alić KO (flying knee) Serbian Battle Championship 27 14 March 2020 1 0:45 Vrbas, Serbia
Loss 14–6 Maurice Greene TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos 29 June 2019 1 3:38 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Loss 14–5 Jairzinho Rozenstruik TKO (head kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 2 February 2019 2 0:54 Fortaleza, Brazil
Loss 14–4 Aleksei Oleinik Submission (Ezekiel choke) UFC 224 12 May 2018 1 1:45 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 14–3 Andrei Arlovski Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis 11 November 2017 3 5:00 Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Win 14–2 Timothy Johnson TKO (punches) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum 22 July 2017 1 2:51 Uniondale, New York, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 13–2 Jose Rodrigo Guelke Decision (unanimous) Aspera FC 43 13 August 2016 3 5:00 Paranaguá, Brazil Defended the Aspera FC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 12–2 Ivan Vičić TKO (punches) Serbian Battle Championship 10 9 July 2016 1 0:58 Bačka Palanka, Serbia
Win 11–2 Tiago Cardoso KO (elbow) Aspera Fighting Championship 38 27 May 2016 3 4:45 Barueri, Brazil Won the vacant Aspera FC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 10–2 Paulo Ferreira Submission (heel hook) Aspera FC 14 29 November 2014 1 1:12 Lages, Brazil
Win 9–2 Arley Simetti Submission (armbar) Aspera FC 13 2 November 2014 1 2:22 Itapema, Brazil
Win 8–2 Diogo Joaquim Silveira KO (knee) Aspera FC 11 30 August 2014 1 3:37 Curitibanos, Brazil
Win 7–2 Bruno Polaco Submission (arm-triangle choke) Aspera FC 8 14 June 2014 1 0:36 Paranaguá, Brazil
Win 6–2 Alison Vicente Decision (unanimous) Smash Fight 3: Rising Stars 7 December 2013 3 5:00 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 5–2 Julio Bizzarri Submission (Guillotine choke) Felino Fight 3 21 September 2013 1 0:42 Criciúma, Brazil Heavyweight debut.
Loss 4–2 Alberto Emiliano Pereira Submission (triangle choke) Nitrix Champion Fight 12 18 August 2012 2 2:42 Blumenau, Brazil
Loss 4–1 Nelson Jaca Submission (rear-naked choke) Power Fight Extreme 6 19 November 2011 2 2:53 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 4–0 Fernando Tressino TKO (knee) Max Fight 9 16 July 2011 1 2:01 Campinas, Brazil
Win 3–0 Everton Panda Submission (armbar) CM System: Challenger 19 September 2010 1 0:50 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 2–0 Marcos Vinicius Submission (triangle choke) Arena Gold Fights 2 17 July 2010 1 3:55 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 1–0 Bruno Alboitt TKO (punches) Paranaguá Fight 5 7 August 2009 1 4:10 Paranaguá, Brazil Light Heavyweight debut.

[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Junior Albini - Official UFC Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Junior Albini vs Diogo Bebezao Fight Result AFC - Aspera FC 11". www.mma-core.com.
  3. ^ "UFC on FOX 25 adds Junior Albini vs. Timothy Johnson". MMAjunkie. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  4. ^ "UFC on FOX 25 results: Junior Albini scores impressive knockout win in UFC debut". MMAjunkie. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  5. ^ "UFC on FOX 25 bonuses: Brazilians hit it big". MMAjunkie. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Junior Albini says UFC on FOX 25 bonus means daughter will no longer have to play with empty shampoo bottles". MMAjunkie. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  7. ^ "On 5-fight skid, ex-champ Andrei Arlovski set for UFC Fight Night 120 bout vs. Junior Albini". MMAjunkie. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  8. ^ "UFC Fight Night 120 results: Andrei Arlovski staves off retirement, outworks Junior Albini". MMAjunkie. 12 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Alexey Oleynik vs. Junior Albini booked for UFC 224 in Brazil". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  10. ^ "UFC 224 results: Aleksei Oleinik does it again, Ezekiel chokes Junior Albini in first". MMAjunkie. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  11. ^ Guilherme Cruz (29 November 2018). "Six fights added to UFC Fortaleza, including Demian Maia vs. Lyman Good". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. ^ Marcel Dorff (2 January 2019). "Surinamese Jairzinho Rose Bush meets Junior Albini during UFC Fortaleza" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  13. ^ "UFC Fortaleza results: Jair Rozenstruik patient, pounds out Junior Albini". MMAjunkie. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  14. ^ Marcel Dorff (10 April 2019). "Four fights announced for UFC Minneapolis including Benavidez vs. Formiga 2" (in Dutch). mmadnanl.com. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  15. ^ Harkness, Ryan (29 June 2019). "Knockout! Greene Drops Albini At UFC Minneapolis". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  16. ^ Adam Martin (13 February 2020). "Junior Albini among latest round of UFC roster cuts". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  17. ^ Lee, Alexander K.; Meshew, Jed (20 March 2020). "Missed Fists: Highlight-reel suplex ends in disaster, ex-UFC fighters thrive in Serbia, more". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  18. ^ Sherdog.com. "AFT - AFT 30". Sherdog. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Providing for daughter is Junior Albini's 'greatest pleasure' since life-changing UFC debut". 10 November 2017.
  20. ^ "UFC heavyweight Junior Albini talks 'surreal' experience of buying daughter's first toys". 25 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Junior Albini says UFC on FOX 25 bonus means daughter will no longer have to play with empty shampoo bottles". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  22. ^ Sherdog.com. "Junior". Sherdog. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
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