Israeli Fighter Barzilai Scores Major Victory Over Former UFC Competitor

Israeli mixed martial artist Ilai Barzilai achieved a significant career milestone on July 27, 2026, by defeating Lucas Almeida, a former UFC fighter, at the GFN 1 event hosted by the Gordon brothers. The fight, held in the lightweight division, ended with a judges' decision in favor of Barzilai. Almeida, 35, is a seasoned and highly ranked Brazilian fighter who had competed in the UFC until last year and was ranked among the top 100 fighters worldwide. This loss marked Almeida's sixth career defeat, dropping his record to 15-6.

For Barzilai, this victory is the most notable of his career, improving his record to an impressive 8-1. Prior to this fight, Barzilai had been inactive for over a year and had several planned bouts canceled, including a lightweight title fight against Christian Espian in the Mexican UWC organization and a June fight against American Landry Ward. Despite these setbacks, Barzilai's performance against a decorated opponent like Almeida has significantly raised his profile.

This win is seen as a crucial step toward Barzilai's potential entry into the UFC, the world's premier mixed martial arts organization. It demonstrates to UFC officials, including Dana White, that Barzilai is ready to compete at the highest level of the sport.