Former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves was a perennial contender in the promotion but was never quite able to reach the pinnacle of the division during his 14 years with the promotion.
However, Alves has since turned his attention to bare-knuckle fighting, where he was able to quickly claim the BKFC’s middleweight title in just his second fight with the promotion.
“It’s pretty cool,” Alves told The Underground. “It’s definitely something that I’ve been striving my whole career, you know, to to have a belt be wrapped around my waist, and we got that. We got that in a brand new sport, but it doesn’t get much more badass than this, so I’m excited to be leading the way.”
Alves claimed the title with a decision win over Ulysses Diaz this past June but has been out of action since after getting surgical repair of a broken finger. However, the 28-year-old American Top Team product is now medically cleared to compete and he’s looking to book his first title defense.
Alves believes he’s got the perfect opponent in mind, as well: Mike Perry, who recently made his promotional debut, outpointing Julian Lane at February’s “BKFC: KnuckleMania 2.”
“This is the fight that’s going to bring a lot of eyeballs to BKFC, and that’s what we need right now,” Alves said. “I think, you know, the last two years, it’s been amazing for the company. I mean, we’re right there, and I think after this fight, we’re definitely going to have the eyeballs and the attention that we need because this is a brand new sport, but it’s very exciting.”
“Platinum” captured plenty of headlines in his debut for BKFC, where his signature brand of entertainment was on full display before, during and after the fight.
Alves believes his fellow UFC vet is a perfect fit for BKFC and believes a matchup with him would help continue the promotion’s rapid growth.
“It fits him better,” Alves said. “I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. My fighting style, I’m a sniper. I don’t miss punches. You know, if I throw, I’m going to make damage, and I think him coming forward, me coming forward, we just have a good chemistry for beautiful violence, so hopefully that’s the fight that the company wants to make happen, and I’ll be right there.”
Alves said his management has already opened up talks with BKFC about putting the matchup together but nothing has been decided just yet. However, he’s going to continue to lobby for the contest and is eyeing summer for the date.
“I’m ready,” Alves said. “I know he just had a fight. His hands must be a little messed up, so I’m thinking worst-case scenario June, July, that would be a good timeframe for him to heal up and get back to training. I’ve been training, I’ve been ready, so I’m just going to get more dangerous by then.”
To see the full interview with Alves, check out the video above.
