Tag: Thiago Alves

Thiago Alves opens up about UFC departure, switch to Bare Knuckle FC, more

Thiago Alves reflects on his time with the UFC and looks ahead at his future in bareknuckle boxing.

[autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] is about to start a new chapter in his fighting career.

The long-time UFC welterweight contender and former title challenger recently signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after finishing his UFC contract and testing free agency. The Brazilian expects to make his bare-knuckle boxing debut on May 16 in Miami but has yet to be booked against an opponent. Alves (23-15 MMA) plans to compete at 165 pounds but said he is open to 175, as well.

Having fought under the UFC banner for nearly 15 years, Alves reached the pinnacle of MMA when fought for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 100 against Georges St-Pierre, going the distance with a dominant champion before dropping a unanimous decision.

Alves became a staple of the UFC 170-pound division and gave fans many fights and knockouts to remember.

Ahead of his transition to bare-knuckle boxing, MMA Junkie caught up with “Pitbull” to discuss his decision to leave the UFC and sign with BKFC.

Below is a transcription of the conversation with Alves:

How do you feel about decision to sign with BKFC a few weeks ago?

“I feel pretty good, man. I went to see a show they had a few weeks ago. Feb. 14, Hector Lombard fought. I liked it, you know, they’re very organized. The show was a lot of high-level fights, and their organization, the venue, everybody, staff were very nice to me. So I’m excited, man. I’m excited to be a part of something new, a new sport in a way that’s growing every year in America.

“I have a lot of guys in the gym that are already thinking about doing some bare-knuckle fights a little bit later down in their career, so I think you’re going to see a shift from MMA to bare-knuckle boxing. I’m excited to be a part of this company right now. I think it’s the perfect time to be in it, to really make my mark and walk away on a high note.”

Does this mean you’re done with fighting professionally in MMA?

“Yeah, for now, definitely. I got a phenomenal contract with Bare Knuckle FC. My goal was to bring a belt, bring a bare-knuckle boxing belt to American Top Team. We don’t have one of those yet, and I think we’re the perfect camp to collect belts in every combat sport out there. So my goal right now is 100 percent to be the best I can be in bare-knuckle boxing. And then, once I’m done with that chapter, then we see. But in my head, pretty much I’m done with MMA for now.”

You said you were in talks with PFL and Bellator prior to signing with BKFC. What ultimately pushed you to go the bare-knuckle boxing route?

“It was just something different, something new. I’ve been fighting MMA my whole life. My first fight was at 17, so it’s been 19 years of competing in MMA. I just wanted something new that makes sense financially, and bare-knuckle boxing gave me this opportunity to kind of refresh my career at this moment. Jumping to a new territory is exciting and savage, it’s bare-knuckle, so I’m excited to test myself, and I think my fighting style is perfect for it. There were some good offers on the table from Bellator, PFL, but bare-knuckle boxing was the best one, and it made more sense for me and it excites me the most.”

Have you ever fought bare-knuckle?

“So my first five MMA fights back in Brazil were all bare-knuckle. It was MMA, but PRIDE FC rules, you know? You could headbutt, we could kick to the head when the guy’s down on the floor, and there was no gloves. So, yeah, pretty much. I know it’s gonna be a little bit of an adjustment, you know, and I won’t know 100 percent until I’m actually in the ring, but I think I’m going to be just fine, man. I’m not afraid of getting punched or getting hit. I’m going to just stay in the middle and swing and see who stops first.”

Thiago Alves vs. Max Griffin

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MMA Junkie Radio #3020: Does McGregor vs. Gaethje make sense at 170?, Cub Swanson (guest)

“Gorgeous” George and “Goze” discuss the latest MMA news and notes, including (surprise!) Conor McGregor, and Cub Swanson joins the show.

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Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On Episode No. 3,020 of the podcast, the fellas react to the latest MMA news and notes. Surprise, surprise! [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] comes up!

THE RUNDOWN

  • Coach John Kavanagh says, if it was up to him, McGregor would fight [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] next. But here’s the catch: The SBG Ireland head coach would like it to happen at welterweight, even though McGregor and Gaethje are regular lightweights. Does this make any sense?
  • [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] initially said he had no interest in fighting [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag], but as it turns out, the two of them will headline UFC London in March. Woodley’s manager, Abe Kawa, shed some light on what changed in an interview with MMA Junkie. What do we think of Woodley’s mindset here?
  • You’ll recall that [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] made headlines a couple of weeks back when he used the N-word during a Twitter spat with African-American actor Michael Jai White. In that same interview with MMA Junkie, Kawa, who manages Perry, offered some insight into Perry’s mind when it comes to using the slur. How do we feel about this?
  • Former UFC welterweight title challenger [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] signed with Bare Knuckle FC. Good move for him?
  • UFC veteran [autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag] joins the show for an interview to talk about his ongoing recovery from a torn ACL, how the UFC is taking care of him after the injury suffered during Quintet Ultra, when he’d like to return to the octagon, what he has left for his career, and more.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves signs with Bare Knuckle FC

Thiago Alves is the latest MMA notable to shed his gloves and join the Bare Knuckle FC roster.

Despite recently teasing a move to PFL or Bellator, [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] has opted to go in a different direction with his fighting future.

Alves, a one-time UFC welterweight title challenger, will shed his gloves to compete in Bare Knuckle FC, the promotion announced Wednesday.

“I’m very excited to be part of the BKFC family,” Alves said in a BKFC-issued press release announcing the news. “I’m looking forward to testing my skills against anyone in my weight class. ‘The Pitbull’ is thirsty for blood!”

After joining the UFC in October 2005, Alves amassed a 15-12 record inside the octagon over more than 14 years. He finally fought out his contract for the first time with a submission loss to Tim Means at UFC on ESPN 7 in December and told MMA Junkie prior to that contest that he intended to test free agency.

In a recent interview, Alves said he’d been in negotiations with MMA organizations such as PFL and Bellator, but would only sign if he thought a worthwhile offer came through.

BKFC, however, came through as a dark horse to attain his services.

“Thiago Alves has been a staple in the UFC for a long time,” BKFC president David Feldman said. “It’s amazing to have a fighter of this stature, and of this caliber, fighting for BKFC. Alves brings it each and every time he gets into the ring. On top of being a great fighter, he’s also a great person. That’s who we are aligning ourselves with.”

Alves is expected to make his BKFC debut in April or May. No potential opponents have been mentioned at this time.

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Thiago Alves says he’s talking to Bellator and PFL, but money has to be there to keep fighting

Former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves weighs-in on his future in MMA and the conditions to continue his career.

[autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] finds himself in a comfortable situation.

The former UFC title challenger and longtime welterweight contender fought out his contract with the promotion in December and now is exploring the market as a free agent.

Alves, who lost to Tim Means by submission at UFC on ESPN 7, said he has no rush to get back in the cage. In fact, if things don’t align for him, the Brazilian fighter is willing to walk away from the sport.

Whether or not Alves (23-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) continues his storied career depends on one simple, but significant factor.

“Money,” Alves told MMA Junkie. “The money has to be right. I was making pretty good money with the UFC. I know what the media has put out there, but it’s very inaccurate. But I don’t like to go out there and be like, ‘Oh, you guys have to make this one right,’ because it doesn’t matter what they know and what they don’t know.

“I’ve been making really good money with the UFC. I’ve been making six figures with the UFC since 2008. So financially, I don’t need to fight anymore. I want to fight because I love what I do. I just turned 36 right now, and in my last fight I got caught. But I do feel like I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.”

A big part of Alves’ lack of urgency to sign with a promotion and continue his MMA career are the different passions and avenues he has to make money outside of fighting.

“I’m excited right now to see what’s the next chapter,” Alves said. “I still have a lot of fight left in me. But if the money doesn’t make sense, then I’m happy to walk away. I have a lot of stuff in place already.

“I’m one of the coaches at American Top Team, and (I’m) opening my own American Top Team gym with Wilson Gouveia, who was my former teammate since I got here 18 years ago. I’m also in the process of getting hired in law enforcement, which has been my first passion before MMA.

“So if the money doesn’t make sense, I’ll be more than happy to focus on the next stage of my life and get those things in place. So that’s where I’m at right now. I don’t need to fight. I don’t have to fight. I’d like to fight, but only if the money makes sense. It needs to get me excited to go train, do a training camp and all that stuff. So that’s pretty much where I am right now.”

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Alves expects to have an answer on his fighting career sometime in the near future and said he’s in talks with Bellator and the PFL.

“By the end of this month, I will know if I will go in the police academy or if I’m going to fight again,” Alves said. “I’m in negotiations with PFL, I’m in negotiations with Bellator, and I’m just waiting to see final numbers. If the final numbers make sense, then I’ll compete this year. If not, I’lll move on to the next chapter.

“If I don’t hear something that makes me excited by the end of the month, I’m just going to turn to the next chapter and do what I do. I don’t have to fight if the money doesn’t make sense, and that’s a beautiful thing. I know many guys that reach the point where I’m at and they have to fight because they don’t have any other alternative.”

If Alves’ MMA career is over, he has plenty on his resume to leave the sport with his head held high.

Alves fought in the UFC for 14 years. He challenged one of the greatest fighters of all time, Georges St-Pierre, for the welterweight title at UFC 100. He earned four “Performance of the Night” bonuses, and defeated many of the best fighters of his era like former champion Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck, Patrick Cote, Karo Parisyan and Chris Lytle.

Looking back, Alves is astonished and grateful for everything he was able to achieve.

“I left Brazil at 19 to start a fighting career and I accomplished way more than I ever dreamed of,” Alves said. “I never imagined I’d be speaking English with you and living in America in a beautiful house, being married, and this and that. So I’ve been living my dream since I was 19.

“I started fighting muay Thai in Brazil when I was 15, and my first MMA fight was at 17. It was PRIDE FC rules – bare knuckles, all that. And when it comes to the thrill of being a fighter of the things that you have to live through, I’ve got 10 surgeries under my belt. So I’m happy with that. I’m fulfilled with that.

“The only thing I wasn’t able to accomplish was become a champion. But when I was fighting, I was competing against the greatest of all time – Georges St-Pierre. So it was hard to beat that guy. But this was fun. I’ve been a top contender for a long time. I have a lot of knockouts under my belt, and I think I left my mark in MMA. So if this is it, I’m happy with it. This is just one-third of my life – hopefully one-fourth if I grow old enough. There’s a lot more to life outside of MMA, but I’m excited I was able to do what I did and lived the life that I’ve lived so far.”

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5 biggest takeaways from UFC on ESPN 7: Rozenstruik’s comeback, Miragliotta’s rough patch, Mitchell’s twister

Thought and analysis of the biggest storylines to come out of UFC on ESPN 7.

What mattered most at UFC on ESPN 7 in Washington? Here are a few post-fight musings …

* * * * *

1. MMA forever remains ridiculous

That main event between [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (45-18 MMA, 10-7 UFC) encapsulated everything that makes this sport so unpredictably wild.

After more than 24 minutes of forgettable fight time between the heavyweights, fans inside Capital One Arena started to hit the exits in sizable doses. Even I was convinced the fight had given us everything we were going to see, but then a ho-hum affair turned into one of the most memorable outcomes of the year in the span of one punch.

Not only did Rozenstruik score the third-latest stoppage in UFC history with his leaping left hand that finished Overeem with just four-seconds left in Round 5, but the impact of the blow led to the one of the nastiest injuries in recent memory.

Overeem’s lip was split open in sickening fashion by Rozenstruik. It’s perhaps the worst injury of its kind in the sport’s history, largely erasing the fact that main event wasn’t all that great before the finishing blow.

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UFC on ESPN 7 post-event facts: Jairzinho Rozenstruik joins record books with late TKO

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 7, which saw Jairzinho Rozenstruik beat Alistair Overeem in Washington, D.C.

The UFC returned to Washington, D.C., on Saturday for the first time since 2011 with UFC on ESPN 7, which took place at Capital One Arena. The 12-fight lineup aired on ESPN following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+.

A new heavyweight contender emerged in the main event when [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) got his fourth consecutive victory since joining the promotion earlier this year with a come-from-behind TKO of [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (45-18 MMA, 10-7 UFC) in the fifth round of their matchup.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 40 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 7.

* * * *

General

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UFC on ESPN 7 marked the third event in UFC history to feature two draws. UFC 22 and UFC 216 were the others.

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $177,000.

Debuting fighters went 2-2 at the event.

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag], [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] and [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 7 fight-night bonuses.

UFC on ESPN 7 drew an announced attendance of 10,816 for a live gate of $932,593.20.
1
Betting favorites went 9-1 on the card. Two fights ended in a draw.

Betting favorites improved to 21-17 (one fight had even odds, one ended in a no contest) in UFC headliners this year.

Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 2:21:07.

Main card

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Rozenstruik earned his second UFC victory in a 35-day stretch.

Rozenstruik’s four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Rozenstruik has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.

Rozenstruik’s knockout at the 4:56 mark of Round 5 marked the third latest stoppage in UFC history behind Demetrious Johnson’s win (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC 186 and Yair Rodriguez’s victory (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 139.

Overeem’s 14 knockout losses in MMA competition are the most of any active member on the UFC roster.

Overeem’s 12 knockout losses in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are the most in combined organizational history.

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[autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] (13-0-2 MMA, 2-0-2 UFC) is the only female fighter in UFC history to fight to multiple draws.

[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (8-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) has completed at least one takedown in six of her seven UFC appearances.

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[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (37-12 MMA, 7-6 UFC) improved to 1-2 since he returned to competition from a nearly three-year layoff in March 2019. He earned his first victory since January 2016.

Rothwell has earned 34 of his 37 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his seven UFC wins.

[autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 13-10 UFC) fell to 1-4 in his past five UFC appearances dating back to September 2017.

Struve has suffered all seven of his UFC stoppage losses by knockout.

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[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned seven of her nine career victories by stoppage. That includes three of her four UFC wins.

Ladd’s three knockout victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are tied with Ronda Rousey and Germaine de Randamie for second most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (six).

[autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) fell to 2-1 since she returned to the UFC women’s bantamweight division in October 2018.

Kunitskaya has suffered four of her five career losses by stoppage. Both of her UFC defeats have come by knockout.

Simon (15-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Preliminary card

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[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (29-11-1 MMA, 11-8 UFC) improved to 9-6 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in May 2014.

Means has earned 24 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his 11 UFC wins.

[autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] (23-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) fell to 2-6 in his past eight fights dating back to May 2015.

[autotag]Jacob Kilburn[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by submission.

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Mitchell (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) earned the second Twister submission victory in UFC history. Chan Sung Jung also accomplished the feat.

Mitchell has earned all of his career stoppage victories by submission.

[autotag]Matt Sayles[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of his career.

[autotag]Matt Wiman[/autotag] (16-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC) fell to 0-2 since he returned from a 4.5-year layoff in June.

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[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned all 12 of her career stoppage victories by submission.

[autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of her career.

Muradov (24-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) improved to 18-1 in his past 19 fights dating back to March 2015. He’s won his past 13 bouts.

[autotag]Trevor Smith[/autotag] (15-10 MMA, 5-7 UFC) fell to 5-8 in his past 13 career fights dating back to January 2012.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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UFC on ESPN 7 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $30.5 million

UFC on ESPN 7 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

WASHINGTON – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $177,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 7 took place at Capital One Arena in Washington. The card aired on ESPN following early prelims on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 7 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag]: $5,000
vs. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Jacob Kilburn[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Matt Sayles[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Joseph Solecki[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Matt Wiman[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Trevor Smith[/autotag]: $15,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2019 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,880,000
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $30,514,000

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN 7 with plenty of soundtracks and Kanye West

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 event in Washington, D.C.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 7 went with as their backing tracks in Washington, D.C.

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UFC on ESPN 7 results: Tim Means drops, submits Thiago Alves in first round

At Saturday’s UFC DC, Tim Means and Thiago Alves did not disappoint.

[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] and [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] have built up reputations as violent, high-action fighters.

At Saturday’s UFC DC, the two 170-pound fighters did not disappoint in a short, but action-packed spectacle. Means (29-11-1 MMA, 11-8 UFC) defeated Alves (23-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) by guillotine choke at 2:38 of the first round.

Predominantly utilizing their boxing, both men landed heavy shots in the opening exchanges. A couple of minutes into the opening round, Means and Alves threw punches at the same time. It was Means who connected.

Alves fell to the canvas, trying to survive the onslaught. Means pounced on the Brazilian, who covered up. When Alves flipped to his stomach in a potential attempt to grab a leg, Means snatched his neck. From the standing position, Means cranked Alves’ neck in a guillotine choke and got the tap.

The UFC will be bringing an event to Rio Rancho, N.M. on Feb. 15. After the fight, Means called for a fight in his native state.

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With the victory, Means gets back in the win column after his previous fight, a loss to Niko Price in March. Means has now won three out of his last six fights.

As for Alves, the loss is his second in as many fights. The owner of the most welterweight fights in UFC history, Alves has dropped four out of five appearances. The fight against Means was the last on Alves’ contract.

The welterweight fight closed out the UFC on ESPN 7 preliminary card at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It aired on ESPN following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+ and ahead of the main card on ESPN.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 7 results include:

Thiago Alves ‘a little excited’ to explore free agency for first time, following UFC DC

“I’m actually a little excited to see what’s out there. It’s new to me.”

WASHINGTON – [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] has been a member of the UFC roster for 14 years.

When he steps into the cage Saturday at UFC on ESPN 7 against Tim Means (28-11-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC), Brazilian welterweight Alves (23-14 MMA, 15-11 UFC) will partake in his his 26th UFC fight.

The appearance will mark the most of any fighter in the history of the promotion’s 170-pound division. But to Alves, the milestone doesn’t make the fight feel any different.

“I look at it like I’ve got to win,” Alves told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’ve got to win like any other fight. It doesn’t really change anything. Then after this fight, we’ll see what we’re going to do next.”

Indifferent when it comes to breaking records, Alves said Saturday’s fight does feel different – for another reason. The American Top Team product is fighting the last fight on his current contract. He has yet to renew his deal and plans on exploring free agency for the first time in nearly a decade-and-a-half.

“I want to see what the free market says,” Alves said. “I want to see what the UFC offers me. I want to see what other organizations offer me and then see what’s the best option.”

While being without a deal might scare some, Alves insists the prospect of becoming a free agent actually excites him. He said he looks forward to putting his feelers out and seeing what he’s worth in the eyes of other promotions.

“I’ve always just re-signed with the UFC,” Alves said. “I’ve been with the company for over 14 years. This has been home forever. Let’s see how it goes after this.

“I’m actually a little excited to see what’s out there. It’s new to me. Anything new at this point in my career and my life is very exciting.”

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Despite having lost three out of his four most recent fights, Alves, 36, isn’t considering retirement quite yet. However, he is keeping his all options on the table and planning for the future.

“I’m leaving it open,” Alves said. “I think it’s important for an athlete to know you can’t do this forever. You’ve got to start planning ahead – I think a year or two years before you see the end of the road – so you don’t finish and don’t know what to do.

“It’s silly to think that you’re going to be able to do this forever. But I’m still here. I’m still focused on Tim Means on Saturday night. But the plan is, I’m one of the coaches at American Top Team. I’m opening my gym in a few months in 2020. And definitely (I’ll pursue) law enforcement. That excites me.”

UFC on ESPN 7 takes place Saturday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

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