4. Goodbye, Thiago Alves?
It feels pretty likely that [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag]’ (23-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) opening-round submission loss to Tim Means (29-11-1 MMA, 11-8 UFC) marked the end of his UFC tenure. For the first time in more than 14 years since signing with the UFC, “The Pitbull” is set to become a free agent.
Alves joined the promotion in 2005 and told me pre-fight that he’s never completely fought out his contract and would always renew before expiring. That didn’t happen this time around, though, and now Alves can test his market value.
Whether the UFC even attempts to retain Alves’ services remains to be seen. The former welterweight title challenger has lost six of his past eight,and it seems beating top-level talent is not something he’s quite capable of anymore.
Alves had one very decorated career inside the octagon. He fought for UFC gold, stepped in the cage more times than anyone in 170-pound history (26), landed the knockdowns in welterweight history (13), got the second-most knockouts (eight) and more.
The Brazilian said earlier this year that retirement was on the horizon for him sooner than later, because he intends to have a second career as a police officer. Perhaps the outcome of the fight with Means caused him to accelerate that timeline, but Alves could hold real value to organizations like Bellator, PFL and Rizin FF, so him landing at one of those spots on a sweetheart deal seems more likely.