Issue 181
August 2019
"I have been through it all," says Thiago Alves of his 18-year professional career (23-14) and it's hard to argue. Here, "Pitbull" looks back at five of his favorite fights.
1. Chris Lytle, UFC 78
That was a very good fight. I had seen Chris Lytle kicking ass for many, many years. I got the opportunity to fight him in New Jersey. In the first round I was hesitating because he was just coming at me. In the second round I started fighting again. The doctor stopped the fight but that was the fight where I fought a guy who I had been watching kick ass for a long time. That was a fight with a lot of mental mystery and mental barriers I had to break through. We got Fight of the Night, too.
2. Karo Parisyan, UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon
The second one I would say would be Karo Parisyan. He was another guy who, at the time, was slaying everybody. When I fought him I was very scared. We went to Colorado Springs and spent two or three weeks there to get adjusted. He was such a gangster. He said he didn’t need to get adjusted. He felt he would kick my ass anyway. I went out and stopped him with a knee and followed up with some punches. That was a great win for me.
3. Matt Hughes, UFC 85
It was a special night. It was crazy. It didn’t hit me until a few days after. I kind of took it last minute. I had just had the fight with Karo and something feel through then there was the opportunity to fight Matt Hughes in England. My manager called and said I had Matt Hughes next in a few weeks. He asked if I wanted to the fight. I said I was in! About a week before the fight I rolled my ankle in sparring. It was my last sparring session and I tore a ligament in my ankle. I wasn’t going to fight but I was able to get a cortisone shot at the time and I pretty much did nothing the week before the fight. I got on the bike and that was about it. That was one of the reasons I couldn’t make the weight. I had a lot of doubts and questions going into that fight but I came through, man. I know one thing, once my back is against the wall and there is nowhere to run it becomes very easy for me. Matt Hughes was definitely special.
4. Seth Baczynski UFC on FOX: Werdum vs. Browne
This fight was special because it was my first fight after over a two year layoff. I didn’t know where I was going to be in the weight class after tow ears without a fight. I came back and fought in Orlando, which is pretty much my hometown in America. I got Fight of the Night after two years of being off. He was a very tough guy. He was coming off a big win so he was on a roll. So I was like I’m fighting a six foot three inch dude with mad range and super tough. That was just my career in the UFC, man. I never chose an opponent ever. They would just send me the contract and I signed.
5. Max Griffin, UFC Fight Night Hunt vs. Oleinik
The fifth fight on the list, after everything I had been through, had to be my last fight against Max Griffin in Fortaleza. I had to overcome. I had to put on a show in front of my hometown crowd. I know it was controversial and every split decision is going to be controversial. My job is to fight. I’m not a judge. I’m not a referee. I am happy as shit with the result though. I have been on the other side where I thought I won but I didn’t get the nod and I like this side a lot better. That’s the crazy thing, I have been through it all. I have seen it all and I like this side alit better. I’m not the type of guy to complain about things that have already happened. I am going to learn from my mistakes and fucking move forward.
