UFCThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC. This promotion is responsible for solidifying the sport's postion in the history-books.
UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with greater mainstream media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen on Spike TV in the United States, as well as in 35 other countries worldwide.
American Top Team welterweight Thiago Alves (12-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will likely be added to the Nov. 17 UFC 78 event in Newark, N.J., and the fight could be his first ever on a televised main card.
No information was available regarding a possible opponent.
Alves, a Brazilian fighter who turns 24 tomorrow, garnered some spotlight in a crowded 170-pound division after a December 2006 win over Tony DeSouza. However, he failed his UFC 66 drug test due to spironolactone, a diuretic that was prescribed by a doctor to help Alves make weight. After the failed test, Alves said he didn’t realize the drug was a banned substance. Regardless, the California State Athletic Commission shut down the fighter with a nine-month suspension.
Alves returned from the layoff for a solid victory over Japanese fighter Kuniyoshi Hironaka last month at UFC Fight Night 11. Alves assaulted the legs of his opponent and scored a second-round submission via verbal tapout due to leg kicks.
The victory was his fifth in seven career UFC fights — with only one coming way of decision. All of his fights, surprisingly, have come in preliminary bouts.
UFC 78 tickets went on sale this week — despite the UFC having no official main event. A rematch between Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz is expected to headline the event, but the UFC is trying first to renew Ortiz’s contract (which is no easy feat when you’re dealing with one of the sport’s most business-savvy self-promoters).
Alves is a monster. I'd like to see him take on Karo (who's already fighting that night) or Diego (who probably won't fight again that night). Burkman? Fickett?
Burkman has a fight with Petz, and I have no clue what Fickett is doing.
Alves is a freakin' monster, I agree. Dude is just explosive, and has improved a lot. Man, Thiago is going to whomp some fools, and he's another WW that is going to be makin' waves.
I've always liked Thiago. He is exciting as hell and is pretty well-rounded. His debut fight with Fischer was pretty sweet. I hope he gets a solid opponent, Thiago knows how to bring the energy.
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Alves is one of my favorite fighters so this is great news for me. I'd LOVE to see Karo fight Alves. I know they aren't the biggest names, but they need a headliner and I'd be happy with that being the main event. I doubt they will be able to get two bigger names right now that would be willing to fight on such short notice in a main event fight.
Fickett is in talks to fight in another organization I believe. They should see if Davis wants to fight again. Fioravanti, Koscheck, Lytle, Swick (if he can), and Torres could be good choices also
Last edited by screenamesuck : 10-02-2007 at 05:32 PM.
MMAjunkie.com is reporting that Thiago Alves is likely to be added to the card for UFC 78 on Nov. 17 in Newark, NJ.
Alves, currently on a three fight win streak, last fought for the UFC at UFC Fight Night 11 in September, defeating Kuniyoshi Hironaka via verbal submission at 4:04 of round 2. It was his first fight back back from suspension after he had tested positive for a banned diuretic at UFC 66.
Junkie does not name an opponent for Alves at UFC 78 but the rumors section at MMAWeekly.com lists Ryo Chonan as a possible opponent.
Chonan, a veteran of both PRIDE and DEEP, recently signed with the UFC and holds a win over current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Despite his submission victory over Silva at PRIDE Shockave 2004, Chonan plans to compete in the UFC’s 170 lbs. division.
According to Junkie, Alves’ bout could be televised on the main card. If he’s in fact matched up with Chonan, that would increase Alves’ odds of fighting on the main card.
Additional matches rumored for UFC 78 include:
- Thiago Alves vs. Ryo Chonan
- Karo Parisyan vs. Hector Lombard
- Spencer Fisher vs. Frankie Edgar (Edgar has confirmed the match)
- Tamdan McCrory vs. Akihiro Gono
- Joe Lauzon vs. Jason Reinhardt
- David Terrell vs. Ed Herman
A main event has yet to be signed for the card but according to reports, it’s believed that the UFC is trying to sign a rematch between Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz for the card.
Thiago Alves Likely Headed to UFC 78
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