Cesar Almeida vs Donte Johnson set for UFC 334 as Susurkaev exits

Cesar Almeida will meet Donte Johnson at UFC 334, with the matchup now in place after Baisangur Susurkaev exited the card. The event is scheduled for November 15.

Almeida, a 38-year-old Brazilian who trains out of Lotus MMA, carries a 7-3 record into the fight. Nicknamed "Cesinha," he fights orthodox and stands six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach. His numbers point to a striker who makes his output count: he lands 3.73 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy. He rarely looks for takedowns or submissions, averaging 0.2 of each per 15 minutes.

Johnson, 27, is unbeaten at 9-0. The southpaw is considerably shorter than his opponent at five-foot-eight, though his reach matches Almeida's at 74 inches. He lands 3.36 significant strikes per minute with 46 percent accuracy, and he brings more wrestling to the table than Almeida, averaging 1.87 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Johnson puts a perfect 9-0 record on the line against a far more experienced opponent, a test of whether his grappling-minded approach holds up against a sharper striker.
• Almeida's 60 percent striking accuracy meets Johnson's 46 percent, setting up a contrast between precision on the feet and a fighter who is more willing to take the fight to the mat.
• The stance matchup adds another wrinkle, with the orthodox Almeida facing a southpaw and giving up four inches of height.

Susurkaev's withdrawal removes another unbeaten name from the November card. The 25-year-old sits at 12-0 and is known for heavy wrestling, averaging 2.76 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.56 significant strikes landed per minute. No details on the reason for his exit were reported.