The “Muay Thai Wrecking Machine” Thiago Alves has decided to take a slight hiatus from MMA. Alves (11-6 UFC) is one of my favorite fighters and was on path of destruction after a boring, lay and prey loss to Jon Fitch. Alves won 7 in a row from there holding wins over Karo Parisyan, Josh Koscheck and Matt Hughes ( who he finished with an awesome KO Flying knee).
Alves was granted a title match against GSP and was defeated by lack of wrestling experience, which has always seemed to be Alves’s downfall. “The PitBull” didn’t get his first submission win in the UFC until UFC 138 against Papy Abedi.
Alves has only went 2-3 since fighting GSP, suffering another lost to Jon Fitch at a catch-weight due to Alves’s inability to make weight. Alves was put into a battle of the Muay Thai’s when he was pitted against Muay Thai practitioner John “Doomsday” Howard where Alves won a stand up war via unanimous.
Alves was also in a war I will never forget against Rick “The Horro” Story. Story talked so much smack before the fight, but also backed up every word up. Story came forward and took every punch,kick, and knee that Alves had to throw.
One knee even sent Story’s teeth through his mouth piece. Alves lost a unanimous decision and was contemplating a move up to middleweight. Instead he got his shit together, got his weight training back on schedule, and returned in stylish fashion with a first round victory at UFC 138.
His last bout was a late loss to Martin Kampmann at UFC on FX 2 in March, in a bout he was dominating until an ill-advised takedown attempt in the third round gave Kampmann a perfect guillotine opportunity, which he capitalized on. Alves not only loss, but was injured in that fight as well.
The former top contender was expected to face off with Yoshihiro Akiyama, then Siyar Bahadurzada back at UFC 149 in July, but had to pull out after tearing his pec, which required surgery. He recently put out a statement saying he won’t be returning until the middle of next year (via BuddhaSport)
“Following my chest surgery, my management and myself have decided to take this year off to fix my left knee as well as all my other little injuries to come back stronger than ever in 2013 to make another run for the title and get it this time. I should be back by June 2013.”
Watch the video below of Thiago Alves as he deals out devastating Muay Thai blows to his opponents.
Video courtesy of youtube uploader hasker6 and content by the UFC..