Thiago Alves Says 2020 Could Be His Final Year As A Pro MMA Fighter

Thiago Alves is back in action at UFC Fight Night Washington DC, facing Tim Means in a welterweight division encounter

Fans may not be seeing Alves compete many more time, as not only is the fighter a free agent soon, but may be retiring next year.

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“Let’s see who me pays more to compete in 2020, which will probably be my last year in competition,” Alves said to MMA Fighting. “I’m opening my ATT gym in the first half of 2020 and I already am one of the coaches at ATT. And I’m joining the police here in south Florida, trying to pass along a bit of my experience as a fighter to help my future brothers and sisters become more efficient in hand-to-hand combat.”

If Alves does retire from professional MMA competition next year, it would end a career that began in June of 2001. Alves’ biggest success arguably came around 2009, where he unsuccessfully challenged then champion Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Title at UFC 100.

UFC Fight Night Washington DC takes place on Saturday, December 7 from the Capitol One Arena in Washington DC with Alistair Overeem and Walt harris headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on ESPN. 

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