D.P.

Nickname Pitbull
Height 5 ft 9 in
Weight 170 lbs
Nationality Flag of Brazil Brazil
Born October 3, 1983
Fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida
Team/Association American Top Team
Primary fighting style Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Wins 16
By knockout 10
By submission 1
Losses 3
Draws 0
No contests 0

UFC Career

After beginning his career 7-1 in smaller organizations such as Absolute Fighting Championships and King of the Cage, Alves received an invitation to make his UFC debut at Ultimate Fight Night 2 against fellow UFC newcomer Spencer Fisher. The fight would take place on Alves' twenty-second birthday.

Despite having early success in the bout, especially on the ground, Alves fell victim to a dramatic triangle choke late in the second round.

Thiago returned to action on the undercard of UFC 56, defeating previously-undefeated Ansar Chalangov by TKO due to punches just 2:25 into the first round.

At UFC 59, Thiago was matched up against Derrick Noble, the lone man to defeat him prior to entering the UFC. Alves avenged the loss, winning by TKO from punches less than three minutes into the bout.

At Ultimate Fight Night 5, Alves was matched up against fellow up-and-comer Jon Fitch. In a match-up of two future top welterweight contenders, Fitch defeated Alves by TKO started by a successful upkick to the head of Alves 4:37 into the second round.

Alves returned to his winning ways at Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3 - The Final Chapter, defeating veteran John Alessio by unanimous decision.

"The Pitbull" completed a busy 2006, during which he fought four times. At UFC 66, he dominated Tony DeSouza, knocking out the jiu-jitsu black belt with a knee in the second round. Following his victory, it was announced that Alves tested positive for a diuretic, spironolactone, which he supposedly used to help him lose water weight in order to make the 170-pound limit. As a result of the failed drug test, Alves was suspended eight months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and fined $5,500.

Alves returned at UFC Fight Night 11, where he knocked out Japanese fighter Kuniyoshi Hironaka with a punch and knee in the second round. Less than two months later, Alves faced off against veteran contender Chris Lytle at UFC 78. After an exciting stand-up battle, doctors halted the bout at the end of the second round because of a cut above the eye of Lytle - declaring Alves the winner by doctor stoppage.

In his first bout of 2008 at UFC Fight Night 13, Alves faced his biggest test to date, as he was matched up against top-contender Karo Parisyan. After failing to amount any significant offense during the stand-up exchanges throughout the first stanza, "The Pitbull" scored a knee to the head of Parisyan, knocking down the judo expert before finishing him on the ground with strikes.

Once again taking just two months between bouts, Alves accepted a fight against former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, a fighter widely considered the most dominant champion in UFC history. The welterweight bout, which served as the main event of UFC 85 in London, was scheduled as a late replacement after Chuck Liddell had to pull out of his headliner fight against Rashad Evans with a hamstring injury.

Prior to the bout, Alves surprised many by missing weight for the welterweight bout - coming in at 174 pounds. Despite his opponent missing the 170-pound limit, Hughes accepted the fight at a catchweight. Despite the pre-fight blunder, Alves shocked the crowd by dominating the heavily-favored former champion. After picking apart Hughes standing and displaying vastly-improved takedown defense throughout the first round, "The Pitbull" knocked Hughes down with a flying knee and followed him to the ground with punches early in the second, earning a TKO stoppage. In the post fight interview, Alves attributed not making weight to spraining his ankle two weeks before the fight.

Next, Alves was slated to face Diego Sanchez at UFC 90, in what many believed would be a match for the number-one contender spot. Sanchez, however, would be forced to pull out of the bout just weeks before the event due to injury.

Josh Koscheck, another top-contender and 4-time NCAA wrestling All-American, stepped in for Sanchez on short notice. Alves dominated his opponent from the opening bell and won by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27). The Brazilian's improved takedown-defense was once again on display, as the American Top Team fighter forced Koscheck into a kick boxing battle. Alves' devastating leg kicks proved to be a factor throughout the bout, taking away much of Koscheck's mobility. He also managed to drop Koscheck several times during the 3-round bout, but Koscheck's quick recovery enabled him to survive the onslaughts.

Number 1 Contender

With his impressive victory over Koscheck, Alves is now riding a 7-fight win streak and has won 9 of his past 11 bouts. After consecutive dominant performances against Parisyan, Hughes and Koscheck, Dana White announced that Alves has earned a title shot against the winner of UFC 94, Georges St. Pierre. After GSP retained his welterweight title at UFC 94, Alves entered the ring to congratulate him, and GSP said that he was looking forward to competing against him. It has been confirmed at UFC 100 Thiago Alves will fight George St. Pierre for the welterweight title which will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 2, 2009