Former UFC fighter Sam Alvey has signed with Karate Combat.
In August 2022, Alvey stepped into the Octagon for the last time before parting ways with the promotion. Some fighters will retire once the UFC is no longer an option, but ‘Smile’N’ wanted to prove there is more gas left in the tank.
On May 27, the 37-year-old fought outside the UFC for the first time since 2014. Luckily, things went according to plan, as he secured a third-round TKO against Cameron Graham (6-14) at B2 Fighting Series 183.
Now that Alvey has ended his nine-fight winless streak, he took the next step by signing with a top-tier combat sports promotion. On Monday, August 28, news broke that the former UFC fighter had signed with Karate Combat.
The official announcement was made on Instagram by Karate Combat with the following message:
“Welcome to Karate Combat @smilensam With wins over the likes Rashad Evans and Nate Marquardt we believe Sam will make an exiting addition to the Heavyweight Roster. Sam has always been a fan favourite and is known to throw down. He will make his Debut in Karate Combat on September 16th in the Dominican Republic.”
Sam Alvey made his UFC debut in August 2014. Throughout his promotional tenure, ‘Smile’N’ had plenty of highs and lows, including a split-decision win against Rashad Evans in 2017.
Unfortunately, Alvey’s career took a drastic turn when he lost four consecutive fights before enduring a split-decision draw against Da Un Jung. He continued to struggle after that fight, leading to four more losses.
Alvey parted ways with the UFC after establishing a promotional record of 10-13-1.
Sam Alvey wins his first fight since 2018 via TKO at B2 Fighting Series 183 pic.twitter.com/0Lb6iIpHQD
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) May 28, 2023
Who is Sam Alvey fighting in his Karate Combat debut?
On September 16, Sam Alvey will make his promotional debut at Karate Combat 41, which takes place in the Dominican Republic. Alvey has been matched up against Brazilian heavyweight Adam Rosa.
The Rio de Janeiro native holds a 0-1 promotional record after losing his debut by unanimous decision in May of this year.
It’s difficult to predict what to expect for the next chapter of Alvey’s combat sports journey. On one side, ‘Smile’N’ has tons of fighting experience, which could help him in Karate Combat. With that said, he’s going to be fighting people who have trained in Karate all their lives, which could lead to disaster.
Only time will tell if Sam Alvey can succeed in the Karate Combat heavyweight division.
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