Thiago Alves: A Pattern of Problems Making Weight

by Kid Nate on Jun 6, 2008 1:46 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

Today's failure to make weight for his fight against Matt Hughes isn't the first time Thiago Alves has battled the scales. Back in early 2007 Alves was suspended for using diuretics to help him make weight for his fight against Tony DeSouza:

Thiago Alves (11-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has been suspended for eight months and fined $5,500 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing a post-UFC 66 drug test, according to Ivan Trembow at MMAWeekly.com.

Alves posted a victory over Tony DeSouza at UFC 66 with one of the night's most lopsided and exciting bouts. In fact, because of the victory, Alves seemed to become a welterweight contender overnight -- with even yours truly championing the cause.

However, after the fight, Alves tested positive for a diuretic, Spironolactone. Alves admitted he used the drug in order to make weight for the fight, which originally appeared on the night's undercard.

As a wag in our comments section pointed out , the UK doesn't drug test fighters, so I guess Alves should get some credit for not going back to the medicine chest.

NOTE: As an even more well informed wag in our comments section has pointed out, the UFC does test in the UK and they've already busted one fighter.

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You Raise an Interesting Point

We’re at the point where we give credit to athletes for not using banned substances?

That’s a pretty sad indictment on sports in general.

by Brett Jones on Jun 6, 2008 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it’s like rewarding someone for not screwing up as much as he could have. He’s supposed to make weight. That’s a part of his job.

by pud333 on Jun 6, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a big surprise

Based on the Bedlam Preview Show, this is not a shocker. Rather than focus on his training, the show spent a majority of the time focusing on his love for going to clubs and the ladies. It would appear Alves isn’t exactly taking his MMA career as seriously as you would think.

by jebushchrist on Jun 6, 2008 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that might be a little stretch. The Preview show was attempting to show the contrast of worlds, not foreshadowing Thiago’s impending failure to make weight. Also, I find it hard to believe that one of the team members (especially one of the top fighters) at ATT would not be taking his MMA career seriously.

I think this is another example of fighters who are probably cutting too much weight to make it to the lowest possible division. I really wish some of these fighters would just fight in a weight class closer to their natural weights. Because most won’t do this we have this type of situation or, worse, we get to watch the fighter gas half way through the first round because he has cut too much weight.

by TheFightJournal on Jun 6, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It showed his lack of focus, is what it showed. And based on the fact that he missed weight, by a lot, it proves that ATT is not infallible.

I agree with your second point.

by jebushchrist on Jun 7, 2008 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be surprised, and disappointed, if Dana White didn’t go nuts on Alves after this event is over. Dana’s got a record of not putting up with this crap.

by Cannon Jacques on Jun 6, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tracy Lee’s pictures are up.

by Nick Thomas on Jun 6, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

He may HAVE taken the diuretic and he just wasn’t even close. There’s no reason to assume innocence here.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jun 6, 2008 2:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ridiculous

There’s no reason for this to be happening in the major league of MMA. Granted, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does (especially on a headliner) it really tarnishes the fight.

by MonsterTruck on Jun 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually there is testing for UFC events in the UK.

There wasn’t for UFC 70 but since 72 in Northern Ireland the UFC has done their own testing since there’s no athletic commision that sanctions MMA

Anthony Torres (Pictures) is the first mixed martial artist to render a positive result for anabolic steroids following a UFC-administered test, Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole reported Wednesday.
UFC vice president Marc Ratner told Iole that Torres, 5-1, was found to have Boldenone in his system following his UFC 75 loss against Jess Liaudin (Pictures).

With the card taking place in the UK - outside the jurisdiction of any regulatory commission that would oversee the event - Torres will not be suspended or fined. The UFC, however, planned on informing athletic commissions of the result.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9338

by Scotty87 on Jun 6, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good find!

That explains why Torres was cut at a time when most fighters were getting more chances.

by Kid Nate on Jun 6, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s actually what the

(I know)

In my comment was referring to, but it just utterly ruins the joke outright state that the UFC does, in fact, conducts drug testing in the UK.

Though, I’m still not clear what a “wag” is.

by Brett Jones on Jun 6, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

... probably just a victim of the “super-salty English water” that BJ Penn was complaining about a couple months ago.

According to this entry by Iole at Yahoo’s “MMA Expert’s” Blog (which is, admittedly, a pretty suspect source for anything credible lately, Dana didn’t seem nearly as pissed about this as you’d expect:

“I’m wondering if this kid should be at 170 or not,” UFC president Dana White said. “If this were a title fight, I’d be really pissed. What are you going to do? Matt Hughes agreed to fight him at 175, so it’s not all bad. ... I can’t wait to get this card behind me, to be honest with you.
“Eight guys dropped out. The main event guy can’t make weight. It’s crazy.”

by Kierkegaard on Jun 6, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This card is definitely cursed, but hey 84 was blessed, so…

Alves probably does need to be at 185, he is way off on his weight.

I think all the problems we have seen with cutting, has to do with fighters trying to fight below their best weights. The body has a way of saying enough is enough, and i suspect some fighters are really cutting to much weight.

I can understand Dana being not so upset. I won’t give Alves a pass by any stretch, but it was on short notice, so a little slack can be cut, imo, especially since it isn’t a title fight.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jun 6, 2008 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know, GSP made weight on a far shorter notice. Like you said, Dana may be slightly easier on Alves, but I will just say “slightly”.

by mattwatt on Jun 7, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One thing is clear,
Thiago Alves is no closer to a title shot than he was when before he fought Karo.
And good riddance, now let’s see Penn vs. Pierre II.

"Common sense is in spite of, not as the result of education. "
-Victor Hugo

by Chonbody on Jun 6, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs