Issue 170

September 2018

Sam Alvey used to be unable to say, No. But for a title shot, he’ll wise up.

Q. You have alternated wins and losses for the most part over the past 10 fights. How good does it feel to have a winning streak going now?

I really needed that. It’s been killing me. I have always wanted to be that fighter that always says ‘Yes’. I am always going to take the fight and I am always going to win. There are a couple of fights I shouldn’t have done. I have gone into a recent fight with a broken ankle. I should have said no but I didn’t want to be the guy who pulls out of fights. The fight overseas in Poland, I should have said no. It was too good of an offer. I was better than that guy. Ten days’ notice? No problem. But then that weight cut came in and it was too much, it just got to me.

Q. Turning down fights is just not in your nature. In a private moment do you sit down weigh up the pros and cons or do you just throw caution to the wind and accept?

For me, that last year and a half I wanted to build a legacy. I wanted to build a reputation for myself. I wanted to be known as the guy who was always on the card, who was always fighting and who would always bring the fight. It bit me in the butt a few times. For the most part, though, it succeeded. I took some tough fights and won some tough fights. I lost some fights I shouldn’t have lost. This next chapter in my career I am gunning for a title. The fights I take are going to be smart. I will fight as often as I am comfortable fighting. I am going to make a real goal of climbing the rankings. For now, it will be at 205. I can still make 185 but that lack of weight cut was really nice.

Q. We talk a lot about the physical aspect of the weight class change but how great was it to know mentally that you were so healthy and knowing you had full camps to prepare for fights?

I think the results of the fights prove how important it was. A buddy of mine and I were talking about it recently. We were saying I had decent fights but I hadn’t really had a good fight since the Nate Marquardt fight. That was the last full camp, the last real full camp. I enjoyed that fight. Rashad wasn’t great. Leites wasn’t great. The Russian cat I fought in Poland was a terrible fight. I think my full camp in my trip back to light heavyweight put me at ease. I knew exactly what I was going to do. Whether my brain wanted to do it or not, my body was going to do it. I hope to replicate that method and strategy in my future fights.

Q. You said you can eat more. So what specifically were you eating?

I use the George Lockhart method. He has the Fitness VT website and I have been working with George for about two years now. Even at 205, I had a very clean diet. I didn’t have fat for eight weeks. I was lean. I just got to eat more of it and that was really nice. For too many weight cuts I’ve not eaten well and I go in hungry or not quite full. At 205 I just got to eat more and it is wonderful. Fighting is easy, cutting the weight is miserable and difficult.

Q. Gian Villante is just a good dude. He’s a cool and fun guy. You want to share the cage with guys like that. In a sense you are both winning. You said as much in your interviews. Can you elaborate on that mindset?

If you look at everyone I called out, it has always been people I enjoy being around. I am going to make someone a bunch of money. Win or lose, they and I are going to make a bunch of money. Why would I want to do that with someone I don’t like? Why would I want to do that with someone who has a stick up their butt? They didn’t earn the shot with me. I have met Gian once or twice and he might be the funniest guy in the UFC. To have the opportunity to share the Octagon with someone as talented and just a good dude all around, it was just a real honor and pleasure to share the cage with him.