Thiago Alves Says He’s Testing Free Agency, Will Only Sign With A Promotion If The Money Is Right
UFC Fight Night Washington DC was Alves’ final bout in the promotion and the fighter is willing to sign with another organization, as long as the deal makes sense.
“There are some negotiations going on, but nothing really excited me yet to keep fighting,” Alves told MMA Fighting. “Thank god I’m financially set, so I don’t need to fight. I want to fight if it makes sense financially. If it doesn’t, I’m cool. I’m open to offers, but it has to be the right offer. I’m not fighting for pennies. It has to be more than I was making in the UFC. It has to be something good.”
It is unknown at this time as to which organizations have made an offer to the UFC veteran.
Alves admits that he has done a lot for the sport of MMA, but the one thing the fighter didn’t do is win a world championship.
“I’ve done everything for this sport,” Alves said. “The only thing I haven’t done was win the world title, but I fought the best welterweight of all times, Georges St-Pierre. A 19-year-old kid that left Fortaleza for Miami with 50 dollars in his pocket…I want people to remember me as someone who worked hard and believed in his dream. I did everything my way. I’ve done a lot of sh*t, but I’ve learned with my mistakes and kept moving forward without blaming anyone else but me. I have no complaints. I live a great life, I have a beautiful house, a lot of money in the pocket, my family is great, my son is great. I love my work. I’m part of American Top Team, a team I helped create and become what it is today. I’ve inspired many fighters that are competing in MMA today. So, if you’re going to remember me, remember me as someone who believed in his potential. I’m living the dream since the day I left Fortaleza. For me to come back (to fighting), it has to be something that really makes sense, otherwise I’m cool.”
If Alves does choose to sign with another MMA promotion, it would mark his first non-UFC bout in over fifteen years.
