It’s been quite the solid run for Rafael Alves since he exited the UFC.
After a 1-3 run in the promotion, Brazil’s Alves found himself outside the UFC a little less than a couple years ago. But 2024 has been a good year: Alves went 3-0 under the Karate Combat banner.
At Karate Combat 51 on Friday, Alves (21-12 MMA, 1-3 UFC), who got into the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, outpointed fellow UFC veteran Khama Worthy. But before the fight went to the judges, Alves landed a brilliant capoeira kick that didn’t take Worthy out, but certainly became a new part of his sizzle reel.
Then he added another highlight on the post-fight microphone with Din Thomas and proposed to his girlfriend, who said yes.
Along with Thursday’s double whammy, Alves’ highlight reel includes one of the knockouts of the year when he landed a sickening switch kick to the face against James Vick for a stiffening finish.
Check out Alves’ kick against Worthy from multiple angles below, as well as his proposal.
Alves’ DWCS win came in August 2020, but his UFC debut wasn’t until May 2021. A scheduled fight against Pat Sabatini was scrapped three months prior when Alves came to the fight around 12 pounds higher than the featherweight limit.
Suffice it to say, when he did debut in the UFC, it was at lightweight, where he dropped fights to Damir Ismagulov, Drew Dober and Nurullo Aliev, but did have a first-round submission of Marc Diakiese.
After an MMA win for Peak Fighting in 2023, Alves has focused on karate in 2024 and has wins over three UFC vets: Efrain Escudero, Vick and Thursday’s ‘W’ against Worthy. All three of those matchups took place at 170 pounds.
Look back at his KO of Vick below:
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC vet Rafael Alves lands sick kicks at Karate Combat, then pops the question
