UFC veteran “Smile’n” Sam Alvey was a mainstay of the middleweight and later light heavyweight divisions from 2014 to 2024, but these days he’s been finding success under the Karate Combat banner.
Now the reigning Karate Combat heavyweight champion, Alvey (34-18-1, 1NC MMA, 4-0 KC) has drawn fellow UFC alum Robelis Despaigne (5-2 MMA, 6-0 KC) for his latest title defense.
Promotion officials recently announced the match-up, which will headline Karate Combat 58, set to take place on December 5, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
It won’t be a walk in the park for Alvey. Since exiting the UFC on a two-fight skid, Despaigne has been a beast for Karate Combat. He’s 6-0 with the promotion, which includes winning three fights in a single night, including stoppages of fellow UFC alums Zac Pagua and Tim Johnson, to win the promotion’s Last Man Standing tournament.
Alvey, who finished his UFC career on an 0-8-1 run, is 4-0, 1NC in five appearances for the Karate-based promotion. The No Contest saw Alvey unable to continue after being on the receiving end of a headbutt from Antonio Arroyo. “Smile’n” Sam got his revenge in an immediate rematch, stopping Arroyo with punches.
Alvey has three finishes among his four Karate Combat wins, and has successfully defended his heavyweight title twice, after winning it his second appearance for the company.
