Rafael da Silva Alves (born November 14, 1990) is a Brazilian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who formerly competed in the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

Background

Rafael Alves, originally from Icoaraci in greater Belém, started his athletic journey as a disciplined young soccer player with dreams of going professional. He trained with Yago Pikachu and played for Paysandu's Sub-20 team. However, after a bike accident on his way to soccer practice, Rafael decided to focus solely on Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He trained in

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

and

jiu-jitsu Jujutsu ( , or ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu (both ), is a Japanese martial art and a system of close combat that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponent ...

, eventually moving to the United States to further his MMA career. A businessman in Miami helped him secure a fight, and after an impressive winning streak, he caught the attention of UFC president Dana White. Despite the tragedies of losing his parents; his mother to cancer and his father after he was run over by a car, he remains dedicated to helping his family and friends in Brazil.

Martial arts career

Early career

Alves started his MMA career in 2007 he mostly competed at Brazilian and American promotions, amassing and complied with 18-9 record. Alves received invite to appear at Dana White's Contender Series 30 where he faced Alejandro Flores. Alves defeated Flores via guillotine choke in second round and earned UFC contract in process.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Alves made his UFC debut against Damir Ismagulov on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night:Font vs. Garbrandt. He lost the bout via unanimous decision. Alves was scheduled to face Mike Trizano at UFC Fight Night 185, however Trizano suffered ankle injury and was replaced by Pat Sabatini. On February 19 it was announced that Alves missed weight by 11.5 pounds over featherweight non-title fight limit, with the bout eventually being scrapped. Alves blamed the weight miss on eating bad salmon the night before weigh-ins. Alves faced Marc Diakiese on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night:Holloway vs. Rodriguez. Alves won the fight via guillotine choke in first round. Alves faced Drew Dober on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277. Alves lost the bout via knockout in third round after Dober punched him to the body with left hook and send him to the canvas. Alves faced promotion newcomer, Nurullo Aliev at UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen on February 25, 2023. Alves lost the bout via majority decision. On March 28, 2023, it was revealed that Alves was released from UFC.

Karate Combat

After winning his first bout in Karate Combat, Alves faced James Vick at Karate Combat 47 on June 29, 2024 and won by a head kick knockout.

Championships and accomplishments

* Titan Fighting Championship ** Titan FC Interim Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 21–12 , Marcos Vinicius , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Peak Fighting 32 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:25 ,

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, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 20–12 , Nurullo Aliev , Decision (majority) , UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 20–11 , Drew Dober , KO (punch to the body) , UFC 277 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:30 ,

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 20–10 , Marc Diakiese , Submission (guillotine choke) , UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:48 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 19–10 , Damir Ismagulov , Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 19–9 , Alejandro Flores , Submission (guillotine choke) , Dana White's Contender Series 30 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:55 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 18–9 , Felipe Douglas , KO (punch) , Titan FC 54 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:18 ,

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 17–9 , Beibit Nazarov , Submission (guillotine choke) , Titan FC 50 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:30 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 16–9 , Guilherme Miranda , Decision (unanimous) , Titan FC 49 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 15–9 , Rudy Morales , Decision (unanimous) , Combate 16 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–9 , Jason Fischer , TKO (injury) , WXC 65: College Throwdown 2 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:50 ,

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, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–8 ,

Vagner Rocha Vagner Rocha (born June 6, 1982) is a Brazilian submission grappler and former professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the featherweight division. He is the 2017 Combat Jiu-Jitsu Worlds lightweight champion. Mixed martial arts career ...

, TKO (leg kicks) , Fight Time 32 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:36 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–7 , Yoislandy Izquierdo , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Fight Time 30 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:49 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–7 , Alexandre Pimentel , Submission (guillotine choke) , Fight Time 27 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:54 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–6 , Frank Carrillo , Decision (split) , Fight Time 25 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 12–6 , Samuel Paiva , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Jungle Fight 75 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:32 ,

Belém Belém (; Portuguese for Bethlehem; initially called Nossa Senhora de Belém do Grão-Pará, in English Our Lady of Bethlehem of Great Pará), often called Belém of Pará, is the capital and largest city of the state of Pará in the north of B ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 11–6 , Carlos Augusto da Silva , Decision (unanimous) , Coalizão Fight 4 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Benevides, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–6 , Bruno Tavares , Submission (armbar) , Jungle Fight 68 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:45 ,

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 10–5 , Breno Moura , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Jungle Fight 63 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:43 ,

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–5 , Tiago Trator , TKO (retirement) , Jungle Fight 45 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:38 ,

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–4 , Jamil Silveira , Submission (kimura) , Brazilian King Fighter 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, N/A ,

Fortaleza Fortaleza ( ; ; ) is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeastern Brazil. It is Brazil's 4th largest city—Fortaleza surpassed Salvador, Bahia, Salvador in 2022 census with a population of slightly over 2.4 mi ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3 , Renan Silva , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Jungle Fight 40 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:50 ,

Macapá Macapá () is a city in Brazil with a population of 512,902 (2020 estimate), and is the capital of Amapá state in the country's North Region, Brazil, North Region, located on the northern channel of the Amazon Delta near its mouth on the Atlant ...

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–3 , Neilson Gomes , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , Jungle Fight 39 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:30 ,

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Claudio Araujo Neves , KO (front kick) , Icoaraci Vale Tudo , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:19 ,

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 7–2 , Paulo Robinson , Submission (guillotine choke) , Amazon Fight 15 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:00 ,

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 7–1 , Reginaldo Ferreira , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Lenox Fight Competition 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:55 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Claudio Ferraz , TKO (punches) , Zero 2 Fight: Vale Tudo , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:44 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Joelson Guerra , Decision (split) , Lenox Fight Competition 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Iranildo Conceicao , KO (punches) , Jacunda Fight , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:12 , Jacundá, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Arielson Silva , TKO (punches) , Icoaraci Rematch of the Year , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:06 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Giliarde Cardoso , KO (head kick) , Goianesia Fight Combat , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:11 , Goianésia do Pará, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , José Vagno Soares , KO (punches) , Pepeta Fight Night , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:26 , Tailândia, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Juliano Shanghai , Submission , Balada Fight , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:23 , Goianésia do Pará, Brazil ,

Karate Combat record

, Win , align=center, 3-0 , Khama Worthy , Decision (Unanimous) , Karate Combat 51 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

, United States , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , James Vick , KO (switch kick) , Karate Combat 47 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:24 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Efrain Escudero , Decision (unanimous) , Karate Combat 44 , , align=center, 4 , align=center, 3:00 ,

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alves, Rafael 1990 births Living people Brazilian male mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters 21st-century Brazilian sportsmen