Sam Alvey on Elias Theodorou: “I Know How He Fights”

Sam Alvey spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Elias Theodorou at UFC Fight Night 89. The highlights are below:

On prepping for Theodorou: “I know everything I need to know about him. He’s got a few things wrong already. I’m looking forward to this fight. I’ve watched my video. I’ve watched everything I can on him. I know how he fights, I know what he’s good at and I know what he’s bad at. Now I’ll just go out there and show it.”

On his call out of Theodorou at UFC Fight Night 75: “I had just fought in Australia, I got my hand raised, and they gave me the microphone and I said, ‘Elias, I’m coming for ya – let’s do this. I’ll make it a hair vs. hair match. Why not?’ He shot it down immediately and hard for like seven months. He just wouldn’t do it – didn’t want the fight. It was this, it was that – he didn’t want it. Then he lost his last fight, and it was a good fight, but he lost it and couldn’t say no anymore.”

On the layoff since his last fight due to a broken jaw: “It was terrible – for a guy who smiles a lot, it was worse than for most maybe. I would never consider quitting MMA unless I were to break my jaw again. It was just miserable. For six weeks, you’re wired shut. I lost 30 pounds and got fat all in the same timespan because you can’t do anything. Well, once (the jaw wire is) off, you still can’t do anything. You can talk and eat a little more, but it was just a miserable injury and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

On going for the knockout: “I’ve always been a knockout guy, but knocking someone out in the UFC helped boost my confidence, almost too much. Then the last fight with Brunson he knocked me back down a little bit. I’m ready for it. I know what I’m good at. I know where I lie with my power and my speed and I’m ready to show it.”