Almeida Eyes March Return in New Jersey

LAS VEGAS -- Former middleweight King of Pancrase Ricardo Almeida has designs on returning to the Octagon for an event tentatively scheduled for March 27 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The 33-year-old Almeida suffered a torn medial collateral ligament and meniscus in one of his knees while training in October. The injury, which took him out of a UFC 106 matchup with the American Kickboxing Academy’s Jon Fitch, did not require surgery, but it forced the third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to endure an intense rehabilitation program.

“I’m still a few weeks away from getting back on the mat,” said Almeida, nearing full strength and in town to corner lightweight contender Frankie Edgar at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale. “I’m already boxing, running and biking -- no sparring yet.”

Should a bout in New Jersey materialize, it will mark Almeida’s first appearance in his home state since he made his UFC debut against 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland nearly nine years ago. That match ended in his disqualification, and Almeida would like nothing more than to erase the memories of that ill-fated showing.

“I wasn’t born in New Jersey,” he said, “but ever since I moved to the U.S. in 1997, it’s been my home.”

Almeida, one of only two men to submit top middleweight contender Nate Marquardt, will carry a two-fight winning streak into his next bout, during which he will debut at 170 pounds. A four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu national champion, Almeida remains interested in a potential showdown with Fitch, who will take on Mike Pierce at UFC 107 “Penn vs. Sanchez” this Saturday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

“I don’t have anything personal against Fitch,” Almeida said. “I’m interested in fighting guys who can get me to the top of the division. Fitch is a great fighter. Pretty much everyone agrees Georges St. Pierre is the number one guy in the world and Fitch is number two. Who wouldn’t want to fight the number two guy in the world?”