Thiago Alves: I'm going to hurt Carlos Condit, and 'I'm going to break him'
Thiago Alves never suffered a torn ACL in his knee, but he understands the frustration his next opponent, Carlos Condit, felt while sitting out for a year, unable to return to action.
Alves missed two years of his career due to a long list of injuries, including a torn pectoral muscle, that forced him to drop out of several fights before he finally returned to the Octagon in 2014.
Since that time, Alves has gone 2-0, including a recent win over veteran welterweight Jordan Mein. And now that Alves has finally put the injuries and time off behind him, the Brazilian contender is ready to resume his hunt for a UFC belt.
"I'm living in the moment right now. Just enjoying it. I'm very focused and very prepared and very happy, also," Alves told FOX Sports from Brazil on Wednesday. "This is what I love to do. I love everything with being an MMA fighter, but this is just another day at the office with a little bit more excitement because I have the opportunity to get where I want to get. Take one step closer."
It's been nearly six years since he challenged for the welterweight title at UFC 100 against former champion Georges St-Pierre. But while the Canadian legend has taken a long hiatus in his own career, Alves still believes he's thriving and read to make another run at the belt.
The time off and injuries were a massive setback, but Alves is now single purposed and a monomaniac when it comes his current pursuit of finally becoming UFC welterweight champion.
"This is a former champion, ranked No. 4, and after I go through Carlos I'll take his spot. I'll be next in line to fight for the belt or one more to fight for the belt," Alves said. "In this weight class, people are always getting hurt so I'm going to stay ready, stay prepared to jump in."
Stylistically, the welterweight division has shifted course quite a bit from the last time Alves was in a position to challenge for the belt. St-Pierre was a well-known wrestler, who loved to put his opponents on the mat and keep them there for five rounds.
From Matt Hughes to Josh Koscheck to Jon Fitch, the welterweight division was once filled to the brim with top wrestlers who ruled the roost -- and Alves faced and beat many of them. He can't deny, however, that the welterweight division in 2015 is much more striker friendly, and that plays directly into his Muay Thai kickboxing background.
And it's the perfect matchup to face another striker like Condit this weekend.
Alves fighting Seth Baczynski in April 2014.
"It is very exciting. I think that's what people really like to watch where people are striking and trying to take each other's heads off. Don't get me wrong, I'm an MMA fighter and I'm prepared for wherever the fight goes, but fighting standup is just my bread and butter. It's what I've been doing since I was 14 years old," Alves said.
"I'm going to go out there and I'm going to outstrike him, I'm going to hurt him, I'm going to break him and I'm going to put him away."
Alves' confidence when facing a former champion like Condit comes from his years of training and experience against the best fighters in the world. He truly believes he can beat anybody in the division, but Alves is especially excited for anyone that would try to test his standup.
He believes Condit will attempt to outstrike him on Saturday night. Alves, then, plans on making him pay for it.
"I think I'm better than him everywhere without a doubt," Alves said. "I'm the sharper striker, I have better positioning, I have more power, I'm more explosive and I think that's going to make a huge difference in this fight. I'm going to go out there, get loose and put him away."
Being the main event in a card taking place in his home country only ups the intensity for Alves, who truly believes this is his chance to send notice to the welterweight division that he's back and ready for business.
At just 31 years of age, Alves still has plenty of road left in front of him to travel, but he sees this fight with Condit as the fork in the road for his career. Of course, Alves only sees one way to turn and that's the direction that ends with a shot at the UFC welterweight title.
"It's my fight. It's tailor-made for me. Everything I've gone through to get to this point. Forget UFC 100, this is my title shot and I'm taking this very seriously," Alves said. "I'm going to go out there and I'm going to make a statement and I'm going to put Carlos Condit away."
