Rafael “The Turn” Alves (19-10 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Featherweight (145lbs): 1-0 (DWCS), Missed weight 1x in UFC
Lightweight (155lbs): 0-1 (UFC)
Rafael Alves is a veteran of the 2020 season of the Contender Series where he fought in the featherweight division. It was the first time that Alves had competed at 145lbs, and successfully made weight, since 2014.
Rafael (5’8″, 68″) isn’t necessarily long but has a very heavy build (I’d almost compare his physique to another WCC alum Gilbert Burns). Alves has tree trunk legs and a thick midsection.
Alves missed weight for his fight against Pat Sabatini earlier this year, weighing in at 157.5lbs. And get this— the fight was not at lightweight, even though Alves would have also missed weight at 155lbs. The fight was actually slated to take place at featherweight. Alves had missed weight by 11.5lbs and passed Anthony Johnson’s 2012 weigh-in for the worst UFC weight miss.
The bout between Rafael Alves and Pat Sabatini was cancelled as a result of the botched weight cut.
Needless to say, at 31 years old, it is very, very unlikely that Alves will ever return to the 145lb division. But Alves will definitely be a fighter for fans to keep an eye on in the future to see if he can break into the UFC’s shark-infested lightweight division.
