Thiago Alves Says He’s Done With Fighting At Lightweight

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Thiago Alves said he’s done fighting at lightweight. He also spoke about his upcoming UFC 210 bout with Patrick Cote. Here are highlights:

On fighting at lightweight: “It’s not worth it. I’ll make the same money to cut 15 pounds more. But I don’t regret it because it was something I thought I could do. I tried, honestly, but I couldn’t. At least I tried with everything I had. The good side of it is that now I’m lighter than I was before, and I have less weight to cut. I can make 170 pounds in a week now. The UFC 205 experience changed me a lot. I fixed everything I had to fix, removed some people that were pulling me back, and I have nothing to worry about now. My focus is to be the best now. I’m thrilled to be a father now, having fun everyday, and getting ready for this fight.”

On changing his nutritionist: “Changing my nutritionist, that helped me. There was so much negative energy between him and my team. And not only that. By blocking all that negative energy, trying to do something that was not what I wanted to accomplish after all. Cutting all that bullsh*t and focusing on what I really have to focus.”

On his fight with Patrick Cote: “Cote is not afraid (to fight me standing), he will try to do everything, but everybody wants to take me down eventually, so I’m ready for everything, his wrestling and his striking. I’m better than him everywhere. I’ll be better prepared physically as well. It’s going to be a good night for the fans and a bad night for Cote.”