TUF Brazil 3 winner Warlley Alves has been out of action over a year — and he is ecstatic to get back to work this Wednesday at UFC Fight Island 8.
“I feel so happy, because this is my work, this is my job, this is my dream,” Avles (13-4) told Cageside Press during a virtual media day to promote the rare mid-week card. Alves will be facing Mounir Lazzez, with the pair serving as the evening’s co-main event.
His entire life, Alves dreamed of fighting in the UFC, he explained. And so siting out wasn’t easy. Returning, on the other hand, has him upbeat. “This is real for me,” he said of that dream. “I’m so excited.”
Admittedly, the time off might have been a bonus. He was coping with injury, for one thing. “I needed six months to get back to the training. I respect my doctor, he said ‘no training.'” At the same time, the pandemic kicked up, notes Alves. “I just played video games,” the Brazilian admitted, explaining how he passed the time. “Six months later, I was back to the training, and focusing on the next fight.”
Alves wasn’t always paired up with Mounir Lazzez on Wednesday. The original booking was with Christian Aguilera. Really the only difference between his original fight with Aguilera and the new booking with Lazzez is height, Alves stated. Lazzez is 10cm taller. Aside from that, they’re both power punches, and both talented. “But I’m ready. This is the fight of my life. I’m ready for this fight,” he added.
Warlley Alves takes on Mounir Lazzez in the co-main event of UFC Fight Island 8 on Wednesday, January 20 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The card airs live on ESPN (TSN in Canada).
