Just a few days ago, Sam Alvey was preparing to battle Phil Hawes in a do-or-die middleweight fight on the UFC Vegas 47 main card.
Then, Hawes — himself a replacement for Ian Heinisch — dropped out. Mere days out from the event, Brendan Allen stepped up, moving the fight to light heavyweight, but at least keeping Alvey on the card.
Both men entered off losses, but Alvey’s record put him beyond must-win territory: 0-6-1 in his last seven fights, almost unheard of in the UFC, though a couple of close split decisions had likely saved his job.
Come the fight kicking off, Allen backed Alvey up to the fence. Smile’n Sam caught him with a punch or two, partially blocked but enough to get Allen’s attention. Allen would later shoot for a takedown, which was stuffed by a sprawling Sam Alvey. As they continued a bit of back-and-forth, Alvey found a home for a right, then a left. Allen utilized kicks to the body, few and far between however. A spinning kick was followed by a spinning back fist later in the round for Allen, but neither attack did much damage. Alvey’s counters in the final minute were a different story, but Allen would then hurt Alvey just before the buzzer.
Round two opened with a high kick attempt by Allen, looking to test if Alvey was still compromised. Instead, it was Alvey hitting the mark first, with Brendan Allen shaking his head — the universal sign that despite all evidence to the contrary, yes, you actually did get me (but I don’t want you to know it). Allen, however, would drop Alvey later in the round, care of a left hook to the chin, and that set up the end. “All In” got in under Alvey’s neck, and forced the tap!
Short Notice, QUICK day at the office for @BrendanAllenMMA!
[ #UFCVegas47 live on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/RdJfIcHv1M
— UFC (@ufc) February 6, 2022
Official Result: Brendan Allen def. Sam Alvey by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 2:10
