Actor Wagner Moura, known for his roles in Narcos and Elite Squad, surprised UFC fighter Jailton Almeida at his gym in Salvador, Bahia, to train with him before his upcoming bout, leaving Almeida feeling honored and grateful for the experience.
Jailton Almeida, a UFC fighter from Salvador, Bahia, had an unexpected visitor at his gym, Galpao da Luta, one month before his main event bout with Derrick Lewis in UFC Sao Paulo. The visitor was none other than Wagner Moura, a popular Brazilian actor known for his roles in Narcos and Elite Squad. Moura, who is a purple belt in jiu-jitsu, reached out to Almeida’s physical therapist to arrange a training session during his visit to Salvador. Excited about the opportunity, Almeida agreed to train with the actor.
Initially unaware of Moura’s last name, Almeida received a text from his friend, indicating the actor’s interest in training. The day before their session, Almeida received a confirmation text, and it was then that he realized he would be training with Wagner Moura. Overwhelmed with surprise, Almeida found it hard to believe that he had been casually texting a famous actor on WhatsApp without realizing it.
Before beginning their training session, Almeida and Moura sat down on the mats and had a chat. Moura expressed his gratitude, stating that he wanted to meet the gym and Almeida in person, and thanked him for representing Bahia on the global stage. Almeida, overjoyed by the actor’s presence, felt extremely gratified to have a movie star watch him train, something he never imagined happening.
During their training session, Almeida discovered that Moura was skilled in spider guard and x guard, able to swiftly take his opponent’s back. Despite the intensity of the training and the heat in the gym, Moura admired Almeida’s dedication and described the experience as training in a sauna.
The meeting between Jailton Almeida and Wagner Moura at Galpao da Luta left a lasting impression on the UFC fighter. To have a renowned actor appreciate his gym and express gratitude for representing their shared hometown was truly special to Almeida. This unexpected visit from Moura emphasized the importance of leaving a legacy and cherishing every opportunity in life.