A middleweight match-up featuring two long-serving members of the UFC roster has been booked for April 10.
“Smilin'” Sam Alvey and Zak Cummings will throw down on that date, which will mark Alvey’s return to the middleweight division after a stint at light heavyweight.
MMA Junkie was first to report the booking Friday, after Cummings announced he had signed a bout agreement earlier this week. The Texas-born, Kansas-based fighter then had a little bit of fun playing “guess the opponent,” posting a photo to social media that suggested he had the “perfect training partner” for his upcoming foe.
Red hair, big smile. Cummings was either fighting Alvey, or Ronald McDonald.
Cummings (24-7) is 3-1 is his last four fights, which have all come at middleweight after an earlier run at welterweight. Most recently, the 36-year old defeated Alessio Di Chirico by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 8. That bout was Cummings’ only fight in 2020. With the UFC since 2013, Cummings is 9-4 in the promotion overall.
Alvey has had a rougher road of late. Part of the UFC roster since 2014, “Smilin'” Sam quickly became a fan favorite for his big smile, busy schedule, and entertaining scraps. Unfortunately, Alvey is winless in his last four, although he fought to a draw with Da Un Jung at UFC 254 last October.
After compiling a 2-4-1 record at light heavyweight, however, middleweight is once again the place to be for Alvey.
The UFC’s April 10 event does not yet have a location or venue announced. The following fights have been reported for the card thus far.
Nina Ansaroff vs. Mackenzie Dern
Jarjis Danho vs. Yorgan De Castro
Bea Malecki vs. Norma Dumont Viana
John Makdessi vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Zak Cummings vs. Sam Alvey
