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Thiago Alves on UFC Pittsburgh pullout: ‘I will never apologize for that’

Hurricane Irma stopped Thiago Alves from fighting Mike Perry, and he’s not going to apologize for putting his family first.

By Tim Burke
UFC 183: Mein v Alves Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images

Like many in Florida, Thiago Alves took a big hit from Hurricane Irma. The long-time Coconut Creek-based American Top Team member was unable to fight this past weekend at UFC Pittsburgh due to the storm, electing instead to take care of his family despite trying to get to the fight for a while.

Alves released a statement on Instagram explaining his situation:

#RipTanky Esse foi o meu primeiro furacão morando na Florida como Marido e Pai de família. A segurança da minha família é a minha obrigação. E eles sempre vão ser a minha prioridade. Mesmo assim, eu segui todas as instruções que o Time de Viajem do UFC me deu. A não ser lógico a opção pegar o carro e dirigir com a minha esposa e o meu filho de 13 meses, quando o Estado todo da Florida está em Evacuação de Emergência. Mesmo assim, eu tive vários voos que foram cancelados de sexta de manhã a terça feira 11pm da noite. Depois de passar 6-7 horas no aeroporto, não tendo certeza se iria conseguir seguir viajar a tempo para a luta. Não tendo eletricidade em casa, dormindo na academia com a minha família. E lidando com a morte do meu Bulldog de 9 anos devido ao furacão Irma. Eu decidi ficar em casa com a família e reconstruir. Foi a decisão correta e não me arrependo. Eu tenho muito Amor e Respeito pelo o meu Esporte pela a minha Família pelo meu Time para ir a guerra sem estar 100% focado. Eu e o UFC estamos em bom termos. Eles entendem e respeitão a minha decisão. Eu tenho 12 anos com o UFC, eu conheço bem o Sean Selby. Ele sabe que eu sempre venho proto para guerra. Eu treinei por 16 semanas, essa luta era para ter acontecido em agosto. Se eu não luto eu não faço dinheiro. Só quem se prejudica realmente só eu e a minha família. Eu estou pronto e vou continuar pronto! Eu lutarei esse ano ainda, Sean Shelby falou no máximo dezembro. A todas a vítimas do furacão Irma, que Deus nos abençoe! Osss

A post shared by Thiago 'Pitbull' Alves (@thiagoalvesatt) on

“This was my first hurricane as a husband and father. The safety of my family it’s my duty and they will always come first! Still, i did make every attempt suggested by the UFC Travel Team to get to Pittsburgh besides taking a 'Road Trip’ with my wife and my 13 months son when the whole state of FL was evacuating. All my flights continued to get cancelled from Friday am all the way to Tuesday 11 pm. After spending 6 hours at the airport with no real idea when I would make to the fight, having no electricity, sleeping in the gym with my family, and dealing with my dog dying from heat exhaustion… I decided to stay with my family and rebuild. I will never apologize for that, it’s not in my nature. I have too much love and respect for my Sport, Family, Team and the MMA Fans to go to war not being 100% ready. Me and the UFC are in great terms, they understand my decision. I’ve been with the company for 12 years. I’ve known Sean Shelby for a very long time and he knows I always come to fight. I trained for 16 weeks bc this fight was originally happening in August. If I don’t fight I don’t get paid, so nobody suffers but Me and My Family. I’m ready and will stay ready. I should be rebooked by December. My support to everyone that went through Hurricane Irma. My thoughts and prays are with you #RipTanky”

Alves (22-11, 14-8 UFC) returned to welterweight in April, defeating Patrick Cote by decision. Perry ended up fighting very late replacement Alex Reyes on the Pittsburgh card, knocking him out with a knee in just 79 seconds and winning a performance bonus for his efforts.

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