UFC Fight Night: Bader vs Saint Preux Prelim Breakout Star: Sam Alvey

The Prelim Breakout Star is a once per event article that helps fans get to know those who will be entertaining them from the undercard. The intention of the article is not to bring attention to the most talented guy on the preliminary card, but rather one that the common fan may have overlooked or underestimated.

Hopefully this long hiatus away from MMA finds all you fans rested and ready to resume to action. With 63 fights scheduled for the next month, and possibly more announcements to follow, fans will certainly make up for lost time. And it will be a lot of time with events coming as early as 1:00 am Eastern in some cases. Luckily, you won’t have to get up too early Saturday to see this week’s star.

Sam Alvey

Nickname – Smilin’
Affiliation – Team Quest
From – Waterford, Wisconsin
Height – 6’2”
Weight – 185 lbs (Middleweight)
Record – 25-5, 1NC (0-0 UFC)

What makes him impressive

Some fighters smile when they get hit, which is usually a good indicator that he/she got tagged. “Smilin” Sam Alvey lacks such a tell because the smile is never off of his face. Perhaps one of the toughest guys in the business to break, he not only always looks like he’s happy to be there, but also always seems to be in the fight. This is far more than a facade though. Sporting some amazing knockout power, he could pull a win out at any time. He proved this in his MFC title fight against Jason South last October. Heading into the 5th round, many had the scorecards even. With four seconds left on the clock, Alvey hit a big counter right hand and took home the title. Pair that with the right he hit only 47 seconds into his Ultimate Fighter preliminary fight and it’s clear he can land the big shot at any time.

Why he has been overlooked

The 16th season of The Ultimate Fighter was void of its usual coach bickering. In addition, having followed the less than stellar Ultimate Fighter: Live, the ratings of the show were also not amazing. It’s premiere is still ranked amongst the lowest in the series. This would explain why most of the MMA world did not get a chance to see Alvey’s stellar KO. An early exit on the show due to a questionable majority decision kept him from getting as shot at the finale, further keeping him out of the public eye.

What makes this a good matchup

Tom “Kong” Watson has shown he has plenty good hands and a great chin to match. However, his last couple of fights he’s had a tough time outstriking fighters who are primarily grapplers. When he steps into the ring with Alvey, this won’t be the case. He’ll have to stand toe-to-toe with someone who wants to bang with him. With neither fighter having ever been knocked out, this just could be the night for it. Either way, you aren’t going to want to miss this one.

Record: 40 Wins, 19 Losses, 2 Did Not Fight (DNF)

1. Francisco Trinaldo – UFC on FX: Belfort vs Bisping (W)

2. Simeon Thoresen – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Dodson (L)

3. Tyron Woodley – UFC 156 (W)

4. Vaughan Lee – UFC on Fuel: Barao vs McDonald (W)

5. Dennis Bermudez – UFC 157 (W)

6. Cristiano Marcello – UFC on Fuel: Stann vs Silva (L)

7. Daron Cruickshank – UFC 158 (L)

8. Ryan LaFlare – UFC on Fuel: Mousasi vs Latifi (W)

9. Bart Palaszewski – TUF Finale (L)

10. Yoel Romero – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Melendez (W)

11. Rustam Khabilov – UFC 159 (W)

12. Fabio Maldonado – UFC on FX: Belfort vs Rockhold (W)

13. Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC 160 (W)

14. Antonio Braga Neto – UFC on Fuel: Nogueira vs Werdum (W)

15. Roland Delorme – UFC 161 (W)

16. Seth Baczynski – UFC 162 (L)

17. Jorge Masvidal – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Moraga (W)

18. Ednaldo Oliveira – UFC 163 (L)

19. Mike Brown – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Sonnen (L)

20. Dylan Andrews – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs Kampmann (W)

21. Soa Palelei – UFC 164 (W)

22. Elias Silverio – UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Bader (W)

23. John Makdessi – UFC 165 (W)

24. Alan Patrick – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs Shields (W)

25. Andre Fili – UFC 166 (W)

26. Jimy Hettes – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Munoz (W)

27. Germaine de Randamie – UFC Fight for the Troops 3 (L)

28. Omari Akhmedov – UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs Henderson (W)

29. Sergio Pettis – UFC 167 (W)

30. Roxanne Modafferi – TUF Finale (L)

31. Takeya Mizugaki – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Bigfoot (W)

32. Alptekin Ozkilic – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Benavidez (W)

33. Siyar Bahadurzada – UFC 168 (L)

34. Mairbek Taisumov – UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs Lim (W)

35. Charlie Brenneman – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs Philippou (L)

36. Walt Harris – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Thompson (L)

37. Clint Hester – UFC 169 (W)

38. Joe Proctor – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Mousasi (W)

39. Aljamain Sterling – UFC 170 (W)

40. Zak Cummings – TUF China Finale (DNF)

41. Cyrille Diabate – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa (L)

42. Mats Nilsson – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa (L)

43. Alex Garcia – UFC 171 (W)

44. Hans Stringer – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Henderson (W)

45. Jim Alers – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs Nelson (W)

46. Ryan Jimmo – TUF Finale (W)

47. Caio Magalhaes – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs Browne (W)

48. Joe Ellenberger – UFC 172 (DNF)

49. Kyoji Horiguchi – UFC Fight Night: Brown vs Silva (W)

50. Francisco Trinaldo – UFC 173 (L)

51. Iuri Alcantara – UFC FIght Night: Mousasi vs Munoz (W)

52. Paulo Thiago – TUF Brazil Finale (L)

53. Jon Tuck – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Khabilov (W)

54. Mike Easton – UFC 174 (L)

55. Ian Entwistle – UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs Te Huna (L)

56. Ray Borg – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs Stevens (W)

57. Rob Font – UFC 175 (W)

58. Derrick Lewis – TUF Finale (W)

59. Jessamyn Duke – UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs Miller (L)

   60.  Nikita Krylov – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs Brandao (W)

   61.   Patrick Cummins – UFC on Fox: Lawler vs Brown (W)