Yardbarker: Thiago Alves

GSP-Alves Held Back

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:55:22 -0500

Georges St-Pierre and Thiago Alves seem to be having a good time in preparation for their upcoming bout at UFC 100. During a 'UFC Photoshoot' it appears that Alves is trying to start trouble with GSP, but the bikini girls are holding him back. Check out the video below.

Everything UFC 100

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:50:43 -0500

So for the past two months, I’m training really hard before my fight. Three weeks I spent in New York doing Muay Thai at the Wat with Phil Nurse and all the guys over there, sparring with Shawn Imes, Brad and all those great training partners that I have for Muay Thai training. I’m learning a lot from Kru Phil. I also train in New York in Renzo Gracie Academy under supervision of John Danaher – he’s my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor. I have great training partners there as well. The level of jiu jitsu in New York at Renzo Gracie is better than it is in Montreal, so that’s one of the main reasons why I’m going there and I spend so much time at that Academy.

I’m learning new move every day and I met some new friends that I will bring in Montreal for help me train for the fight. In Montreal everything goes well. Oh I always wrestle, box and do my Muay Thai and jiu jitsu in different places, as well as my strength and conditioning. Everything goes well – I just beat my record on snatches with a dumb-bell. Now I can snatch 100 lbs. 3 repetitions with 1 arm, which is something that I never thought I was ever going to be able to do when I first start training with Jonathan Chaimberg because I was struggling to lift like a 60 lb over my head and now I can do 3 reps with 100 lbs. I got so much stronger than I was, and that make me very confident for my next fight, because I know Thiago Alves is a very big guy and very powerful and he has been able to dominate a lot of these guys because of his superior strength and superior size. But I truly believe that it’s not going to work against me.

About one month away from my fight, I decided to stay in Montreal and instead of traveling like in New York and Albuquerque, I decide to bring all my training partner in to avoid me to travel, being tired and get stuck with some virus during the airplane transportation. I have many guys who came in town recently - John Danaher from New York came for my jiu jitsu – he showed me some amazing stuff that I will be able to use. I also work with Jean-Charles Skarbowsky, who’s a legend in Muay Thai who spent most of his life in Thailand. He came with two of his top students, and he showed me a bunch of stuff in Muay Thai that I’ll also be able to use during my fight. And the fact that he came with two of his top students – it give me a good idea of what is world-class Muay Thai fighter and it’s gonna help me gauge the speed and the power of a real Muay Thai guy.

Also I have some other guys coming in town – one of my friends from New York – Steven Williams came and helped me train for the fight as well. He’s an amazing fighter and he joined the group, you know, in Montreal and helped me out very much to help me for that fight. I also have a bunch of guys coming up for the next couple of weeks like Nathan Marquardt and they’re going to help me get prepared as much as I can for this fight. I’m very excited, I’m very nervous – I remember when I was young, when I started my career, I thought that the nervousness will go away with the time. But I realized that is wrong – because as far as my career goes, the more bigger are the fights and the more pressure I have. I’m always nervous. But I think this nervousness is a good thing, because that’s what keeps me sharp. And even though I’m just as nervous as I was in the beginning, the thing is, with the experience, I learn how to deal with it by control and I know it’s normal and I can sleep better at night. I always have butterflies, but the key is - make the butterflies fly in formation.

Being part of UFC 100 – it’s a great honor for me because I know it’s going to be a historical show. Even though the focus is not strictly on my fight like it was last time when I fought BJ Penn, it makes this fight even more dangerous. Thiago Alves is the greatest challenge that I had in my career – he’s gonna be the toughest guy that I fought so far, and that’s what makes him very dangerous is he’s a very confident guy, he’s a gentleman, and he doesn’t have to talk trash. So even though he doesn’t talk trash, I know he’s going to come out very strong and try to hurt me really bad early in the fight. However, I will be very well prepared. I try to focus on what I’m going to do to him instead of focusing too much on what he’s going to do to me.

I’m a very busy person during training camp – I try to “keep the main thing the main thing” and the main thing is to win my fight. It’s very important for me that I take away all the distractions – my manager who takes cares of everything of the fight for me has been very busy as well. So we’re both in lockdown mode and hopefully the people around us can understand it. Shari will have more information in her blog, but I know she’s been very very busy getting everything ready for the fight, the website, the Expo, the after party – she takes care of things so I can focus on the main thing.

Thank you everybody for the support and I received almost 1300 logos. I will be glad and honored to wear my new logo on my shorts. I look forward to meet the winner at my after party July 11th. For my after party this time I have a new formula – I’m gonna do something more private that will benefit my foundation. Remember, it’s for a good cause, and for me, doing something for kids, it’s a way to give back to the society and it’s a way for me to help the world get better in a way, you know? On my website, GSPFightClub.com, we’re auctioning 50 spots to the after party to benefit my foundation – I hope to see you there.

Even though I won’t be there, please come check my booth at the Fan Expo. I will have a bunch of stuff, like bandanas, t-shirts, a lot of things, pictures, autographed stuff that will be there and everybody is welcome. Thanks very much everybody – I really appreciate your support and my main focus is on winning the fight July 11th and after it’s going to be party time. Ha! Ha!

Thiago Alves: I’ll Shock The World With Knockout of GSP

Sun, 17 May 2009 10:19:12 -0500

Welterweight challenger Thiago Alves, who meats UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre on July 11th at UFC 100, has predicted he’ll shock the world with a knockout of GSP in a recent interview with MMAjunkie: “I’m not just going to win, I’m going to knock him out. I’m going to shock the world. You have to do this for a reason. I want to make history. At (UFC) 100 I have a chance to make history, and I will make history. I promise you that. I’ve been asking for it, and you get in life ...

Thiago Alves: I’ll Shock The World With Knockout of GSP

Sun, 17 May 2009 09:14:53 -0500

UFC News: Video: Thiago Alves Talks UFC 100 Bout With GSP and Much More

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:19:00 -0500

Video: Thiago Alves Talks UFC 100 Bout With GSP and Much More

UFC News: Thiago Alves Says He Is Ready To KO GSP At UFC 100 In July

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:48:54 -0500

Thiago Alves Says He Is Ready To KO GSP At UFC 100 In July

Reflections on Fight Week

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:21:33 -0500

I was coming from Toronto in a connection flight, and as soon as I landed in Vegas, all the people in the airport at the gate where I came in started screaming at me "GSP" and start to applaud. This was the first time something like that happened to me - I felt like I had a lot of support of my fellow Canadian fans. So I went out of the gate with my luggage and everybody applaud me and some people came for pictures and I shook hands, took picture, then I pass security and I headed to the hotel. It was amazing to see since the Primetime show how the sport is getting more popular. You know, every year the sport gets more popular, but this time it really took a big, big step because of that. I had a lot of pressure, and I had a hard time sleeping all week long, constantly thinking about the fight and all the people that having been helping me for this. And I didn't want to let nobody down and I wanted to perform as well as I am supposed to. For me it is very important because I always feel like I'm not alone into this and it's like a team work. So even though I am alone in the Octagon, all the work that we put all together it's not only by myself - it's all the people from France, Brazil, United States , Canada, Quebec, who came and flew in Montreal that helped me out for this one.

This time it was a little bit different - it was the best preparation ever because I brought two of my own cooks - Ross and Jennifer from Montreal. I know these people because they cook in my favorite restaurant , Cavalli, in Montreal so I brought them for a week to cook for me to help me out for cutting my weight down because I am doing a diet to cut the carbs and the sodium. I did the diet and their food was amazing! I am going to bring them all the time - it made a plus in my preparation for the fight; I have never had an easy weight cut as much as this. After the weigh-in, it was great - we had the dinner, all my friends who flew from Montreal were there. We went to eat at Panevino's restaurant in Las Vegas - we were about 20-30 people. After the dinner was finished, I say "bye" to everybody and I start to put myself in the fighting mode, which is like I put a circle around me and I don't let nobody from the outside getting in - only my training partners and my corner men. Later that night we eat at the hotel - my cook prepared a good pizza for me and I had a great night of sleep. I didn't sleep much, but I slept better than normally I do before a fight. I was nervous as hell - I have never been nervous like that for a fight. But I know the more I am nervous, the better I perform because my reflexes and my reaction time get much faster.

The day of the fight I was in the locker room and Dana White brought Wayne Gretzky's wife, and Wayne Gretzky's sons to meet me. It's amazing, because Wayne Gretzky's one of my childhood idol. Unfortunately he wasn't there, but I get to shake the hand of his wife and his sons.

I fought a great fight, I did I stick to the game plan - it was amazing. BJ Penn is built like a boxer, and we have been studying a lot of tape, a lot of his training footage - so I know that with clinching with him, he would have built up a lot of lactic acid in his shoulders and because of his physical type he has a hard time taking out the lactic acid to make it evacuating so it make his hand very heavy and very slow after that. So my strategy was to clinch him and to work a lot to the body and on the ground. I was hitting a lot with my elbow in the middle section all the time because of his very flexible thoracic cage, he has a very weak body so I stick to the game plan. Even though the body does not do much damage it make people really tired and it really pay off for that fight. On the ground he always use a move called the Hip Eyes when he put his foot on his opponents hips and he stood up - so I knew that as soon as he opened up his guard I was controlling his ankle, elevating his leg and standing up before he does. So that's why he would not be able to stand up from me. Also, to not let him use his rubber guard was very important for me to not let him control the over-hook, to not let him wrap my arm, all the time soon as wrap my arm, swim inside and get the better position and keep my body in a vertical position to avoid his rubber guard to not let him elevate his leg. I did very well, I work the body a lot, I clinch a lot in the first two round then after I really felt like I took control of the fight and I broke him mentally. It was a great fight - I had a lot of fun.

After the fight, we went to the after party - so many people it was crazy. I stayed in Vegas until the following Tuesday. We partied the other night, but still Vegas ? it's not like it used to be for me - it's getting pretty crazy. It's very crowded - everywhere I went, I couldn't move.

I went back in Montreal - Montreal is different - the sport is not as popular. I partied with my friends. I had a great, great time. I really need a vacation - I know Thiago Alves is next but right now I just try to not thinking about it.

I went to the Grammy's on Sunday - great experience - had a great time. People really took care of me. Right now I'm heading to Denver, going to help Nathan Marquardt for his upcoming fight. It's his last week of his training - he came to help me out and I will to do the same thing for him.

Next week I plan to go in England to see the UFC to support my friend and maybe stop by a friends as well to see some of my old friends, some of the guys who came to help me out with my training and just to have a good time also with them.

Thank you very much & I will talk to you guys soon.

. .

UFC News: Video: Thiago Alves Talks Georges St. Pierre, More

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:45:05 -0500

Video: Thiago Alves Talks Georges St. Pierre, More

The Final Word

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:02:55 -0500

The following is an official statement from me and my camp regarding recent allegations:

* * * * * *
George St-Pierre's successful welterweight title defense at UFC 94 was the direct result of his disciplined preparation and skillful execution of a masterful gameplan. Any implication to the contrary would diminish the significance of what was perhaps the biggest fight in MMA history.

St-Pierre states: "I have never cheated in my life, and as my fans know, I am deeply committed to upholding the integrity of the sport. My entire camp and I have been completely open about what happened during my fight at UFC 94 ? we have nothing to hide. One of my cornermen did use an energy technique to help with my breathing that involves rubbing my back. He's also done this in my previous fights. If there was any Vaseline left on his hand after he put it on my face, it was unintentional, and I do not believe it made the slightest difference in the outcome of the fight. Of course it's up to the UFC, but I would be happy to offer BJ a second rematch. I am confident the outcome will be the same."

Team GSP is currently enjoying our victory celebration and we will soon turn our attention and focus toward Georges' next competitor ? Thiago Alves.

* * * * * *

I'm currently enjoying my victory and will travel to L.A. this weekend to go to the Grammies. I promise another entry soon to talk about my victory and my post-fight celebration!

On The Move

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:00:47 -0500

Two weeks ago I was in Montreal a class with Bruno Fernandes, who's my BJJ from Gracie Barra. He doesn't live in Montreal anymore, he's living in Toronto for a year doing a special class that's only in Toronto (he's got a PhD as an opthalmalogist). When he comes to Montreal once/month, I always make sure I'm in town because he always has new moves to show me that can apply in my fights. I was very surprised because at the end of the class, he started with a beautiful speech and he took the black belt out of a bag and put it around my waist and he said "well-deserved". For me, it's a huge achievement, just as much as receiving my black belt in karate when I was twelve years old and also winning the UFC World title. It is very gratifying, and coming from him it's even more honorific. I've been very busy during the last couple of weeks because I moved from South Shore to Ile-des-soeurs, from a house to a condominium (less maintenance). I decided to move from my house in South Shore because I was spending too much time in traffic crossing the bridge going back and forth to the island. Most fighters train in one or maybe two, gyms, but I'm different - I train in 5 different places on Montreal island, so I spend a lot time in the car from gym to gym. Normally, I have a training in the late morning and another one later in the evening, so I go home in between. That's why I decided to move closer to my training. I think it will be a big plus and I think I will come out stronger from that change in my life. One of the things that goes along with being a UFC champion is the promotional activities. This past week I was honored to be asked to appear on the cover Men's Fitness magazine the February issue that comes out in January. It was good because they shot in one of the gyms where I train in New York, The Wat, so I also had the opportunity to train a little bit at the same time. Sometime people think that it's easy to shoot photos, but it was an all-day process because you need to shoot approximately 50 pictures just to find one good shot. It was very exhausting, but it was also a lot of fun. When I got back from New York, I got back on a plane and went to Toronto for a charity event organized by Bell Canada. The dinner was very good, and the show was very entertaining. I saw some of my friends, Georges Strombolopous, Michael Lansberg, and Georges Laraque. We were all there supporting a good cause, but enjoying ourselves at the same time. I'm on my way to Brazil, but I stopped off in Chicago to see my training partner Patrick Cote fight for the world middleweight title against Anderson Silva. While I believe he was the first fighter to make it into the 3rd round against Anderson, it's sad to see him lose the way that he did, because of a knee injury. Patrick has a loose ACL even before, and he had been able to fight 3 fights with it, but unfortunately this one was too much for his knee. I think he was doing pretty well against Anderson, and it was a smart strategy for him to bring the fight into the later rounds. I was very impressed by the performance of Thiago Alves he showed everybody why he belongs in the top fighters in the welterweight division. Of course, it's up to the UFC, but I think he will be one of my next opponents pretty soon. I'm going to Brazil for training with my friends at Barra I will get back to you when I come back.

Hughes, Ligament Tears, and Alves

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:05:48 -0500

Hughes confirms Ligament Tear in Alves Fight.

Full UFC 85 Video - Matt Hughes vs Thiago Alves

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:13:52 -0500

Full UFC 85 Video - Matt Hughes vs Thiago Alves. Won't be airing in the US for a couple more hours.

Chris Lytle Vs Thiago Alves Fight Video UFC 78 Validation

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:06:09 -0500

This is the fight video of Chris Lytle and Thiago Alves at UFC 78 Validation.