TEMECULA, Calif. – Sam Alvey was supposed to be facing Brazilian legend Mauricio Rua on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 22, but a broken hand in sparring put an end to a matchup he admits is his dream fight.
Alvey told MMA Junkie things are on track for a quick recovery after an unfortunate accident in training.
“I don’t think it could have been avoided,” he said. “I was just trading with one of my training partners, Jared ‘The Mountain’ Vanderaa, and I threw, and I was coming over, and I don’t know what happened. I didn’t roll my hand fast enough … and I caught him square on the forehead. He’s all right, though, so don’t worry about him.”
As for the injury itself, it’s just a case of letting nature take its course after getting the bones pinned. In typical Alvey fashion, he’s dealing with the layoff with his trademark smile on his face.
“The hand’s doing well,” he said. “It’s getting a bit better every day. They put the three pins in. The pins come out in three weeks-ish. Then I start the rehab. It’s going well – it’s going in the right direction.”
The fight with “Shogun” was all set to be a magic moment for the affable American, who admitted he had harbored hopes of a matchup with the former UFC light heavyweight champion and PRIDE legend throughout his career.
“I have wanted to fight ‘Shogun’ for almost my whole career, just out of respect,” he explained. “He’s as good as that’s ever been. He’s got fights in the Hall of Fame. He will be in the UFC Hall of Fame. I would love to fight him. I’d love to beat him, too. But to be able to share that fight camp knowing he’s at the end, it would be the highlight of my career.”
Alvey’s injury now means he has been reduced to the role of interested spectator when Rua returns to action against Scottish submission ace Paul Craig in Sao Paulo. The Wisconsin native admitted that, while he has no axe to grind with Craig, he’d be siding with the Brazilian.
“I’m rooting for ‘Shogun’ because I’m always rooting for ‘Shogun,’” Alvey said. “Unless he’s fighting me or (Dan Henderson), I’m rooting for ‘Shogun’ at all times. I like Craig. It’s kind of a short-notice fight for him, I believe, so I think the advantage (goes) to ‘Shogun.’ But I’m really just excited to see the fight.”
It says a lot about Alvey’s personality that he can still be excited to see his opponent fight while he’s forced to sit out and rest his injury. But Alvey said he hopes the UFC might do him a solid down the line and rebook him against the Brazilian legend once they’re both fit and ready to fight again.
“Win or lose, I hope to be ‘Shogun’s’ next fight,” he said.
“The UFC has given me the lifestyle I never dreamed I’d have. They don’t owe me anything. But I have done a lot for them and I would love this fight opportunity again.”
Off Guard: Sam Alvey hopes canceled 'Shogun' Rua fight can be rebooked