Warlley Alves learned ‘new tricks’ with Anderson Silva for UFC Fight Night 56

UBERLANDIA, Brazil — Undefeated Warlley Alves returns to his original weight class in a welterweight bout against Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 56 in Uberlandia, Brazil, on Nov. 8, but don’t call the X-Gym talent a prospect.

“I don’t see myself as a prospect. Many fighters started as prospects and never become anything, so I work to become a reality,” Alves told the media in Brazil. “I’m focused on fighting and doing what I believe, one step at a time. Everything that happened (at TUF Brazil) was great, but it’s in the past. It’s a new challenge in my career now. I’m 23 years old, I’m still young.”

After finishing Marcio Alexandre Jr. to become the TUF: Brazil 3 middleweight winner in May, Alves helped Ronaldo Souza for his middleweight clash with Gegard Mousasi. Alves gained a few pounds to help “Jacare” in his training camp and had to cut 40 pounds for his welterweight debut, but he doesn’t believe it’s going to be a problem on fight night.

“I cut down from 210 pounds, and I’m feeling faster and stronger,” he said. “I’m ready. Cutting weight was hard, but we made it.”

Alves, who was always close to his teammate Anderson Silva, says that having the former UFC middleweight champion back to X-Gym for his training camp was excellent.

“I’ve learned a few things with him for this fight, some new tricks,” Alves said.

Jouban, who also scored an impressive finish in his UFC debut in August, stopping Seth Baczynski with punches in the first round, told MMAFighting.com he didn’t know Alves when the fight was offered.

“He can say whatever he wants. I’m focused on Saturday night, and he won’t win,” Alves fired back. “People may say ‘oh, Warlley is cocky and arrogant,’ but no. I believe in me. If God believes in me, I have to believe in me as well. I will win.

“He’s tough, likes to brawl. He’s a muay thai fighter, but I had sparrings fighting like him, so I’m ready for anything be brings to the table.”

UBERLANDIA, Brazil — Undefeated Warlley Alves returns to his original weight class in a welterweight bout against Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 56 in Uberlandia, Brazil, on Nov. 8, but don’t call the X-Gym talent a prospect.

“I don’t see myself as a prospect. Many fighters started as prospects and never become anything, so I work to become a reality,” Alves told the media in Brazil. “I’m focused on fighting and doing what I believe, one step at a time. Everything that happened (at TUF Brazil) was great, but it’s in the past. It’s a new challenge in my career now. I’m 23 years old, I’m still young.”

After finishing Marcio Alexandre Jr. to become the TUF: Brazil 3 middleweight winner in May, Alves helped Ronaldo Souza for his middleweight clash with Gegard Mousasi. Alves gained a few pounds to help “Jacare” in his training camp and had to cut 40 pounds for his welterweight debut, but he doesn’t believe it’s going to be a problem on fight night.

“I cut down from 210 pounds, and I’m feeling faster and stronger,” he said. “I’m ready. Cutting weight was hard, but we made it.”

Alves, who was always close to his teammate Anderson Silva, says that having the former UFC middleweight champion back to X-Gym for his training camp was excellent.

“I’ve learned a few things with him for this fight, some new tricks,” Alves said.

Jouban, who also scored an impressive finish in his UFC debut in August, stopping Seth Baczynski with punches in the first round, told MMAFighting.com he didn’t know Alves when the fight was offered.

“He can say whatever he wants. I’m focused on Saturday night, and he won’t win,” Alves fired back. “People may say ‘oh, Warlley is cocky and arrogant,’ but no. I believe in me. If God believes in me, I have to believe in me as well. I will win.

“He’s tough, likes to brawl. He’s a muay thai fighter, but I had sparrings fighting like him, so I’m ready for anything be brings to the table.”