Thiago Alves wants revenges
Alves is slated to face Jon Fitch at UFC 111, and wants to avenge a 2006 loss to Fitch, and,…
Alves is slated to face Jon Fitch at UFC 111, and wants to avenge a 2006 loss to Fitch, and, to boot, earn a rematch against Georges St. Pierre, his only other loss in four years.
Tatame: You had an injury and were forced out of training for a while. How’s the knee?
Alves: The recovery was good. I had to stop one time to rest the knee ligaments, but it improved and today I am 100% again.
You will face Jon Fitch again, one of the few to beat you in the UFC. What do you expect for this rematch?
I’m stoked my friend. I’m prepared. Can not wait to get the fight. I’ve been waiting for this fight for four years, and now have the opportunity of revenge. I love a rematch, it’s time for payback.
How do you see your growth since that fight with Fitch?
I was very young when we foght. I was not new in sports, but in the UFC, the U.S. system of weight loss, this whole … Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu… Today, I am a totally different fighter, I’m much more experienced, much better fighting, both stand up, Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, There could not be a better time. If I win this, I will fight for the belt again.
You have an eye on two rematches, then?
I get the win and then get the belt, regardless of who has it. I think St. Pierre will win, but you never know, fighting is fighting. If it’s Dan Hardy, we’ll be fighting for the belt, and then have a rematch with St. Pierre.
How do you think Georges St. Pierre and Dan Hardy will go?
St. Pierre has everything to win without problems. He is more complete, experienced, but fighting is fighting, you never know. I like St. Pierre in this fight.
Some have criticized the choice of Hardy for the title shot. Do you think he deserves it or is it marketing?
I’m not here to judge anyone. If he’ll fight, congratulations to him. This is every fighter’s dream. if he does not deserve to be there he will not win.
For a long time you were the only Brazilian among the best in the world at 170 in the UFC. Now, Paulo Thiago is going to his fourth fight and has done an excellent job. What do your think?
I think it’s cool as hell. Brazilians fight like Hell. I’m wondering why I am the only Brazilian in this category, when there is so much talent out there.
