Rafael da Silva Alves[2] (born November 14, 1990) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Rafael Alves, originally from Icoaraci in greater Belém, started his athletic journey as a disciplined young soccer player with dreams of going professional. He trained with Yago Pikachu and played for Paysandu's Sub-20 team. However, after a bike accident on his way to soccer practice, Rafael decided to focus solely on Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He trained in Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, eventually moving to the United States to further his MMA career. A businessman in Miami helped him secure a fight, and after an impressive winning streak, he caught the attention of UFC president Dana White. Despite the tragedies of losing his parents; his mother to cancer and his father after he was run over by a car, he remains dedicated to helping his family and friends in Brazil.[3]
Martial arts career
Early career
Alves started his MMA career in 2007 he mostly competed at Brazilian and American promotions, amassing and complied with 18-9 record.[4]
Alves received invite to appear at Dana White's Contender Series 30 where he faced Alejandro Flores.[5] Alves defeated Flores via guillotine choke in second round and earned UFC contract in process.[6]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Alves made his UFC debut against Damir Ismagulov on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night:Font vs. Garbrandt.[7] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[8]
Alves was scheduled to face Mike Trizano UFC Fight Night 185, however Trizano suffered ankle injury and was replaced by Pat Sabatini.[9][10] On February 19 it was announced that Alves missed weight by 11.5 pounds over featherweight non-title fight limit, with the bout eventually being scrapped.[11] Alves blamed the weight miss on eating bad salmon the night before weigh-ins.[12]
Alves faced Marc Diakiese on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night:Holloway vs. Rodriguez.[13] Alves won the fight via guillotine choke in first round.[14]
Alves faced Drew Dober on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277.[15] Alves lost the bout via knockout in third round after Dober punched him to the body with left hook and send him to the canvas.[16]
Alves faced promotion newcomer, Nurullo Aliev at UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen on February 25, 2023.[17] Alves lost the bout via majority decision.[18]
On March 28, 2023, it was revealed that Alves was released from UFC.[19]
Karate Combat
After winning his first bout in Karate Combat, Alves faced James Vick at Karate Combat 47 on June 29, 2024 and won by a head kick knockout.[20]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| 33 matches | 21 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 4 |
| By submission | 9 | 6 |
| By decision | 5 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 21–12 | Marcos Vinicius | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Peak Fighting 32 | October 14, 2023 | 1 | 2:25 | Frisco, Texas, United States | Won the PF Super Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 20–12 | Nurullo Aliev | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen | February 25, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Aliev was deducted 1 point in round 1 due to a bite. |
| Loss | 20–11 | Drew Dober | KO (punch to the body) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 1:30 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 20–10 | Marc Diakiese | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez | November 13, 2021 | 1 | 1:48 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–10 | Damir Ismagulov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt | May 22, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 19–9 | Alejandro Flores | Submission (guillotine choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 30 | August 25, 2020 | 2 | 2:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Win | 18–9 | Felipe Douglas | KO (punch) | Titan FC 54 | April 26, 2019 | 2 | 2:18 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Won the Interim Titan FC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–9 | Beibit Nazarov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Titan FC 50 | June 29, 2018 | 3 | 4:30 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Catchweight (161 lb) bout. |
| Win | 16–9 | Guilherme Miranda | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 49 | April 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Catchweight (158 lb) bout; Miranda missed weight. |
| Win | 15–9 | Rudy Morales | Decision (unanimous) | Combate 16 | July 27, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 14–9 | Jason Fischer | TKO (injury) | WXC 65: College Throwdown 2 | October 21, 2016 | 2 | 0:50 | Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States | For the WXC Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 14–8 | Vagner Rocha | TKO (leg kicks) | Fight Time 32 | August 12, 2016 | 3 | 2:36 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | For the Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–7 | Yoislandy Izquierdo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight Time 30 | April 22, 2016 | 2 | 2:49 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 13–7 | Alexandre Pimentel | Submission (guillotine choke) | Fight Time 27 | September 18, 2015 | 2 | 2:54 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 13–6 | Frank Carrillo | Decision (split) | Fight Time 25 | May 29, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 12–6 | Samuel Paiva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jungle Fight 75 | December 18, 2014 | 1 | 0:32 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–6 | Carlos Augusto da Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Coalizão Fight 4 | November 13, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Benevides, Brazil | |
| Loss | 10–6 | Bruno Tavares | Submission (armbar) | Jungle Fight 68 | April 5, 2014 | 3 | 1:45 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–5 | Breno Moura | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jungle Fight 63 | December 21, 2013 | 1 | 1:43 | Belém, Brazil | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 9–5 | Tiago Trator | TKO (retirement) | Jungle Fight 45 | November 15, 2012 | 2 | 0:38 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Jamil Silveira | Submission (kimura) | Brazilian King Fighter 2 | November 1, 2012 | 3 | N/A | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–3 | Renan Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jungle Fight 40 | June 15, 2012 | 1 | 2:50 | Macapá, Brazil | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Neilson Gomes | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Jungle Fight 39 | May 12, 2012 | 1 | 3:30 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–2 | Claudio Araujo Neves | KO (front kick) | Icoaraci Vale Tudo | April 14, 2012 | 1 | 4:19 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Paulo Robinson | Submission (guillotine choke) | Amazon Fight 15 | March 22, 2012 | 1 | 2:00 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Reginaldo Ferreira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Lenox Fight Competition 3 | August 6, 2011 | 1 | 2:55 | Belém, Brazil | For Lenox FC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Claudio Ferraz | TKO (punches) | Zero 2 Fight: Vale Tudo | May 5, 2011 | 2 | 2:44 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Joelson Guerra | Decision (split) | Lenox Fight Competition 2 | April 8, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Belém, Brazil | Catchweight (130 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Iranildo Conceicao | KO (punches) | Jacunda Fight | January 9, 2011 | 1 | 3:12 | Jacundá, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Arielson Silva | TKO (punches) | Icoaraci Rematch of the Year | December 18, 2010 | 1 | 3:06 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Giliarde Cardoso | KO (head kick) | Goianesia Fight Combat | December 5, 2010 | 1 | 2:11 | Goianésia do Pará, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | José Vagno Soares | KO (punches) | Pepeta Fight Night | October 9, 2010 | 2 | 2:26 | Tailândia, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Juliano Shanghai | Submission | Balada Fight | September 13, 2007 | 2 | 1:23 | Goianésia do Pará, Brazil | Lightweight debut. |
Karate Combat record
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3-0 | Khama Worthy | Decision (Unanimous) | Karate Combat 51 | December 19, 2024 | 3 | 3:00 | Miami, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | James Vick | KO (switch kick) | Karate Combat 47 | June 29, 2024 | 1 | 1:24 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Efrain Escudero | Decision (unanimous) | Karate Combat 44 | February 24, 2024 | 4 | 3:00 | Mexico City, Mexico |
See also
References
- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
- ^ "Rafael Alves ("The Turn") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
- ^ "Hoje no UFC, paraense Rafael Alves já foi jogador do Paysandu e largou o futebol após ser atropelado". O Liberal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Rafael". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "Report: Rafael Alves Faces Alejandro Flores On Dana White's Contender Series Episode 30 | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (2020-08-25). "DWCS Season 4, Week 4 results: Jamie Pickett buzzsaws Jhonoven Pati, gets contract on 3rd try". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ DNA, MMA; Boussenaf, Jamal (2021-03-25). "Damir Ismagulov en Rafael Alves treffen elkaar tijdens UFC 262". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-05-22). "UFC Vegas 27 Results: Damir Ismagulov Defeats Rafael Alves, Continues His 18-Fight Win Streak". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-02-09). "Mike Trizano suffers ankle injury, pulled from UFC Vegas 19 fight with Rafael Alves". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-02-12). "Rafael Alves now meets CFFC champion Pat Sabatini at UFC Vegas 19". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2021-02-19). "Rafael Alves misses weight by almost 12 pounds for featherweight bout at UFC Vegas 19, fight canceled". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "Salmão, vômito e diarreia: os bastidores do estouro recorde de peso de Rafael Alves no UFC". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 February 2021. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Team, The AllStar (2021-10-29). "Marc Diakiese and Rafael Alves to face off at UFC Vegas 42". The AllStar. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (2021-11-13). "UFC Vegas 42 video: Rafael Alves shocks Marc Diakiese with flying knee, then chokes him out". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-05-16). "Drew Dober vs. Rafael Alves the Latest Addition to UFC 277". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "UFC 277 video: Drew Dober floors Rafael Alves with body punch in final round". MMA Junkie. 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "Undefeated Tajikistani sensation Nurullo Aliev set for UFC debut vs. Rafael Alves". MMA Junkie. 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 220 results: Nurullo Aliev decisions Rafael Alves despite point deduction for biting". MMA Junkie. 2023-02-25. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-03-28). "UFC Parts Ways with Mana Martinez, Rafael Alves in Latest Clean-Up". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "Karate Combat president provides update on James Vick following scary knockout loss". mmafighting.com. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Rafael Alves". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
You must be logged in to post a comment.