The UFC’s annual return to Madison Square Garden has encountered its first late shakeup in the middleweight ranks. Baisangur Susurkaev has been forced off the UFC 334 bill scheduled for November 14 in New York City, leaving undefeated prospect Donte Johnson without his original opponent. The promotion acted quickly to preserve Johnson’s spot, tapping former kickboxer César Almeida to step in for a high-stakes 185-pound encounter on the preliminary slate.
Ag Fight first reported the mid-card adjustment, confirming that while Susurkaev was forced out under undisclosed circumstances, Johnson remains anchored to the MSG card. The shift dramatically alters the tactical picture: rather than a high-prospect duel between two undefeated records, Johnson now meets an experienced kickboxing veteran fighting to snap the first losing streak of his mixed martial arts career.
Correcting the Promotional Record
A point of clarity is necessary regarding Almeida’s standing in the promotion. While secondary reporting misidentified the Brazilian striker as a promotional debutant, official fight records confirm that Almeida is preparing for his seventh octagon appearance. After securing his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, Cesinha debuted in 2024 with a stoppage victory over Dylan Budka. He subsequently built a 3-1 promotional start by defeating Ihor Potieria and Abdul Razak Hasan.
Almeida currently holds a 3-3 record inside the octagon following back-to-back setbacks: a decision loss to Cezary Oleksiejczuk in December 2025 and a knockout defeat against Damian Pinas in July 2026. Taking this short-notice assignment against Johnson marks Almeida's fourth appearance on a major UFC pay-per-view broadcast.
| Metric / Detail | Donte Johnson | César Almeida |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Record | 9-0 (7 KOs) | 3-3 (UFC record) |
| UFC Octagon Record | 3-0 | 3-3 |
| Key Octagon Wins | Sedriques Dumas, Cody Brundage, Eric McConico | Dylan Budka, Ihor Potieria, Abdul Razak Hasan |
| Recent Result | 3-0 UFC start | Loss via KO vs. Damian Pinas (July 2026) |
| Primary Style | Power striking / explosive pressure | Kickboxing / technical range |
Johnson's Unbeaten Surge and Susurkaev's Absence
In Johnson, Almeida confronts one of the middleweight division’s most explosive rising names. Known as Lockjaw, the American prospect holds a 9-0 professional record assembled over two years, with seven of those victories coming via knockout. Inside the UFC, Johnson has notched consecutive victories over Sedriques Dumas, Cody Brundage, and Eric McConico, building a reputation for sudden stoppage power.
The removal of Susurkaev sidelines one of the roster's most talked-about young talents. The 25-year-old Chechen prospect and training partner of former middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev made a thunderous arrival in the UFC by debuting just six days after earning a contract on DWCS, knocking out Eric Nolan at UFC 319. Susurkaev followed that with a stoppage of Eric McConico at MSG and extended his finishing streak to five fights at UFC 328 by submitting Djorden Santos. His withdrawal pushes his next appearance into 2027.
UFC 334 Context and Card Changes
The middleweight restructuring takes place on a high-stakes event at Madison Square Garden. UFC 334 marks the start of a new era in the heavyweight division, headlined by Ciryl Gane facing Josh Hokit for the undisputed championship after Tom Aspinall vacated the title due to an ongoing injury layoff. The co-main event features a long-awaited women’s bantamweight championship duel between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes.
The card continues to see roster movement elsewhere on the prelims. Reporter Nolan King confirmed that Jefferson Nascimento has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Nazim Sadykhov, leaving officials scrambling to determine whether Sadykhov will remain on the card.
Evidence-Led Forecast: Tactical Range vs. Heavyweight Blitz
Tactical Pattern: Johnson operates with explosive forward momentum, leveraging his 77% professional knockout rate to close distance rapidly. Almeida’s kickboxing background makes him a dangerous counter-striker at range, but his recent stoppage loss to Damian Pinas highlighted vulnerability when trapped against the cage. Expect Johnson to press the pace early, testing Almeida’s defense under heavy fire.
Decisive Matchup: Distance control versus dirty boxing. If Johnson forces Almeida into back-foot defense and clinches along the fence, his physical power gives him a clear path to a finish. Almeida’s winning route requires maintaining mid-range distance with leg kicks and straight jab combinations to keep Johnson from planting his feet.
Strongest Counter-Case: Johnson has not yet faced a striker with Almeida's high-level kickboxing timing. If Johnson over-commits on reckless entries without setting up his blitzes, Almeida’s technical counters could expose defensive openings and drag the fight into deeper waters.
What Would Change the Read: Tactical wrestling. If Johnson integrates takedowns early rather than exchanging strictly on the feet, Almeida's defensive grappling will be under immediate duress, neutralizing his primary kickboxing weapons.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- si.com original
- sports.yahoo.com original
- uol.com.br original
- perthfightgyms.au original
