Joel Alvarez returned to the octagon for the first time in over a year at UFC Vegas 42, looking to build on three straight wins.
Unfortunately, for the second straight fight, Alvarez had blown weight. Putting some extra cash in the pockets of opponent Thiago Moises, who was returning for the first time since his July loss to lightweight contender Islam Makhachev.
Moises landed a cracking right hand in the opening round of the featured prelim on Saturday. Alvarez was using fakes and feints, mixing in knees and kicks while marching toward his opponent. Moises was soon lit up and covering up, trying to shake off the cobwebs and escape out of harm’s way. He’d backpedal across the octagon, only for Alvarez to follow put the pressure on once more. Kicks and combos, a kick over a caught kick, and a nasty barrage of strikes to the body and head followed. That final attack sealed the deal, with the ref having seen enough, stepping in to save Moises while he was slowly crumpling.
The elbows in that final sequence, followed by some body shots, were particularly nasty.
Statement made by Joel Alvarez 💥
[ #UFCVegas42 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Ck4myVEAEq
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2021
Weight miss or no, Joel Alvarez now has four straight wins, and Moises may just be enough of a name to break him into the lightweight rankings.
Official Result: Joel Alvarez def. Thiago Moises by TKO, Round 1, 3:01
