Knee injury forces Thiago Alves to withdraw from UFC 107 rematch against Jon Fitch (Updated)

by Derek Bolender on Oct 30, 2009 10:19 AM EDT

Former number one welterweight contenders Thiago Alves and Jon Fitch are no longer fighting at UFC 107 after the "Pitbull" was forced to withdraw from the Dec. 12 event with a knee injury, according to MMA Fanhouse.

Fitch was taken off the UFC 106 pay-per-view and inserted into the Memphis show after Ricardo Almeida bowed out of the Nov. 21 event with knee problems of his own.

Like Fitch, Paulo Thiago was also scheduled to throwdown at the FedEx Forum until he was abandoned by Alves, who got the call to replace "Cachorrao" on short notice for the incoming Fitch.

Alves was hoping to avenge his 2006 loss to the Purdue wrestler prior to getting hurt.

From a logistical standpoint, filling the now-vacant slot with Fitch vs. (Paulo) Thiago makes perfect sense; however, they recently met at UFC 100 on July 11, a bout Fitch won in convincing fashion via unanimous decision.

A second fight is likely out of the question.

What plans the promotion has for either of these fighters remains to be seen (Thiago is rumored to be fighting Jacob Volkmann), but the positive side to this is that the 170-pound division is not short on talent.

UFC 107 will feature a main event between lightweight division champion, BJ Penn, defending his title against number one division contender, Diego Sanchez. In the co-featured fight of the night, former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir will "begin his quest for a third title" when he takes on Cheick Kongo.

Keep it locked in to MMAmania.com for more updates on a possible replacement for Alves. In the meantime, you can check out the latest UFC 107 fight card and rumors here.

***Update: MMAmania.com has been able to confirm that Alves will not compete at UFC 107 and that a request will be made to rebook the fight for late January or early February.

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Comments

man the ufc has been having some bad luck

by the still operator on Oct 30, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Yes. This sucks. One of the few fighters that I would love to see up against Fitch. Now it is def going to be a snoozefest!

by OJR on Oct 30, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

It sure does suck. I was really looking forward to this one too.

by DSmith on Oct 30, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Ahhh I was looking forward to this fight shatty!

by Puck Head on Oct 30, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Noooooooo! All the fights keep getting cancelled.

by Chalkbot on Oct 30, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

The should boucne AJ and have Fitch Vs Kos for the #1 contender spot… Screw swick he blows anyway

by Arnold on Oct 30, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Fitch vs Kos will never happen, same team, and they have said they will never fight each other

by DirtbagHtr on Oct 30, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

They should just delay this fight and put Belcher/Willy G fight on the main card.This fight has to happen.

by JT on Oct 30, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

They should pull Condit and put him against fitch.

by Cole on Oct 30, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Good call. That fight definitely intrigues me. Although, I feel like Fitch would revert WAY back to his wrestling and lay all over him for three rounds.

If GSP couldn’t finish Fitch, I don’t think Fitch has a chance. MMA math works for me.

by Jammin on Oct 30, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

UFC IS PISSING ME OFF ,this is a conspiracy! STOP settingu o fights that are to good to be true! 4th quarter 2009 chalk it up as a bust

by DumbDum on Oct 30, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t mind seeing that fight at all.

Getting scheduled to fight Fitch is like being put on the cover of Madden right now.

by LJ on Oct 30, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

HORSSSEEE SHIIIIIIT!!!!!

by The Legacy on Oct 30, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

That sucks! Good for him though he won’t have 2 loses in a row.

by Alpha Male on Oct 30, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Hehe, I’m pretty sure Alves was going to tear him apart.

by Chalkbot on Oct 30, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Wrong – that is why he bowed out……there will never be a Fitch/Alves rematch. Too bad, I was looking forward to this fight….a Fitch win would have earned him another rematch with GSP. At least he could handle the damage that was inflicted on him which IMO was much more severe than that that JB received….yes JB – jelly boy.

by deadgrassinyard on Oct 30, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Good, with Fitch not humping, I might be able to stay awake for the entire card.

by PW on Oct 30, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Thats what i was thinking, Fitch is hella boring but Alves always brings it.

by Lester The Pimp on Oct 30, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Fitch is hella boring WHEN he’s fighting a good striker. His fights with Diego Sanchez, Roan Carneiro, and Luigi Fioravanti were bad ass.

by Jammin on Oct 30, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

what’s your excuse for paulo thiago?

by Jared on Oct 30, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

C’mon Hughes…step up already!! (but i know you won’t)

by bluebag on Oct 30, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Hughes does not need to prove himself (and I don’t like Hughes).

by OJR on Oct 30, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

DAMNIT! Well Fitch now you get to snooze another win I’m sure.

by Irishmikey on Oct 30, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Thats so crap

by SGTBlitz on Oct 30, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Is Chris Lytle fighting anyone soon? That dude is never in a boring fight. Fitch vs. Lytle would be good.

by Red on Oct 30, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

Lytle would get humped for 15 minutes.

by PW on Oct 30, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I say they should make a new rule about takedowns!

by The Negation on Oct 31, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

matt hughes vs chirs lytle and serra vs lytle both come to mind they suck harder than a dyson

by ruanfiy on Oct 30, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Any chance Thiago had second thoughts about a short notice fight (getting weight in check on time?) Lytle would be a decent fight, but Fitch would just lay on him if he was smart and he is.

by JayJay on Oct 30, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Thiago had been scheduled for the 107 card for a long time so I doubt he’s pulling out due to weight. If by ‘lay on him’ you mean control every aspect of a fight and fighter dominating your will upon them… then yes I’m sure fitch will ‘lay on’ his next fighter. Go back to boxing is you want to watch a dancing match with the hope of flash KO.

by Arnold on Oct 30, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Zing.

by peazy on Oct 30, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Arnold, as much as I agree that wrestling is an important part of the sport, I’m sure you’ll agree that some wrestlers are BORING to watch, take Kevin Randleman back in the day,like when he fought Bas he just layed on top of him for the whole fight… BORING. And I know I risk a back lash for saying it, but Cain Velasquez is extremely predictable, when I was watching that fight with Big Ben as soon as they went at it i was thinking, well… here comes a takedown. and every time ben stood half way up I was thinking hmmm… wonder what Cain is going to do now. Also recently when Josh Neer fought Kurt Pellegrino, that was BORING fight, Kurt just lay on top of him for the whole fight and got the decision. That fight never once looked like finishing.

by Spinning Fat Kick on Oct 30, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Arnold, do you honestly enjoy watching someone lay ‘n pray to a decision? When you shell out cash for a PPV, are you thinking, ’man I really hope a guy gets lots of takedowns and maintains position without inflicting any damage or attempting to finish the fight.’ This is an absolutely indefensible strategy, and fighters who use it should be punished with low salaries and by being banished to the undercard.

by PW on Oct 30, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Randleman didn’t have the knowledge of the new evolution wrestling is turning into. You can’t call someone predictable when your watching a television where you see various different angles the fighter does not. That is great timing on Cain’s behalf. And you seem to not know much about opponents strengths and weaknesses. Did you really think Kurt was going in there to KO Lytle? Hell no, not possible for him. His only hope was a submission, but Lytle has excellent ground game, so Kurt kept himself in dominating position to secure a win, when he knew he was just going to be stale mated by Lytle, if he went for sub or went side control where Lytle could over power Kurt. Wouldn’t you want to come out with the win?

by Crackbaby on Oct 30, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

thank you!!!! fitch is a good fighter! he does what he needs to do to win!! not many guys in the ufc have a record and those who do get every thing handed to them!! fitch has worked his ass off and does not get credit for it!!! i call bs!!!

by shawn on Oct 30, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Fitch is a good dude but like you guys said, he’s hella boring and takes up 3 long rounds of our PPV time.

by natedog77 on Oct 30, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

What a run of bad luck for the UFC. I can’t remember so many high-profile fights being scrubbed in such a short time. From Rampage/Rashad to Lesnar/Carwin, it’s reminding me of the old days of Pride and their at-the-last-second booking.

by Drake_Labatt on Oct 30, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

I’m starting to think that the training is more intense then the actual fight and these guys are going overboard on what they are used to. Move Fitch back to 106 vs Thiago

by DFoy on Oct 30, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

“From a logistical standpoint, filling the now-vacant slot with Fitch vs. Thiago makes perfect sense; however, they recently met at UFC 100 on July 11, a bout Fitch won in convincing fashion via unanimous decision.”

They fought at UFC 5 in June of 2006

Paulo Thiago papi

-JH

by griffinfan05 on Oct 30, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

yeah according to ATT Alves is fine. Fight is STILL ON.

Go on the Underground for more info.

I spoke to ATT. He’s not fine.

-JH

by uh ... on Oct 30, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

this is getting way too common (fighters pulling out due to ‘injury’). Back in the day this almost never happened

by kibbled_bits on Oct 30, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

I think fighters want to be as close to 100% as possible now. It is better than listening to them use an injury as an excuse after the fight.

by JayJay on Oct 30, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m hearing different. Are you sure he’s pulled out of 107?

by F F3d0R on Oct 30, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

Think this might open the doors for Rumble vs Fitch? Since that doesn’t seem to be main card worthy over Amir v Baroni

by Crackbaby on Oct 30, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

I hope UFC makes Hughes fight someone under 60 years old.

by peazy on Oct 30, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

I think Hughes would be the best option here. He is a name, but I don’t know that he would take another fight on short notice after Thiago fight.

by JayJay on Oct 30, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

From: AmericanTopTeam
Posted: 1 hour ago
AmericanTopTeam Member Since: 4/23/02
Posts: 3314

Just to clear things up, I watched Pitbull training yesterday and just spoke to him. He is fighting against Mr. Fitch at UFC 107. I hope that puts an end to the rumors that I have seen floating around on various websites.

American Top Team

by Youtaped on Oct 30, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

I just talked to Jon and he is not fighting Alves. They are finding another opponent for him for the 107 card so that he can still fight.

by Buuck on Oct 30, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

The UFC is having a hard time filling in slots for injured people because they are trying to run too many shows.

by DolFan on Oct 30, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

that and also I think these guys don’t have enough money to spend on real strength and conditioning coaches who know how train elite athletes, just my thought

by Robert(1) on Oct 30, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Is it me or has 2nd half of 2008 and all of 2009 just seem to be a ridiculous number of injuries/illnesses that have kept fighters out of their originally scheduled bouts? I understand that injuries do occur in training but the number of guys pulling out of fights has just exploded in the last year +. Really makes me wonder if some of these fighters are somehow trying to manipulate the UFC as a means of payback for stuff done to them by the Company. It almosts seem like the UFC is going to have to start giving bonuses to guys who show up the first time their bout is scheduled to try and cut down on the rash of pullouts.

by sudnvictory on Oct 30, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

im pretty sure all fighters get money for showing up to the fight…and fight money on top of that..

by salamagogo on Oct 30, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

The injury bug keeps biting the ufc. Alves is a huge loss as he is a top fighter who was in a co main event. Now Kurt Pelligrino joins the list of recent pull outs as he himself has suffered a knee injury that will force him out of his fight with Frankie Edgar at the Ultimate Fighter Finale.

by matt on Oct 30, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

This is crap. Fighters fight injured all the time. Why does he get to pull out?

by prokstar on Oct 30, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

To practice safe sex, one should always pull out.

by deadgrassinyard on Oct 30, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Brock and Coleman just to name a few who actually pulled out

by Robert(1) on Oct 30, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

I remember why I stopped posting on this site….Idiocy

Why does a guy get to pull out because he’s hurt? Are you serious? Do you have any idea how hard this sport is when you’re a 100%?

Fitch hating on here is rampant. I get wanting to see the big KO, but if you can’t appreciate the way that dude works, go watch WWE! Better yet, put on a pair of gloves and entertain us like you know how. Big mouths, little balls!

by TonyDrip on Oct 30, 2009 9:09 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting someone should bring up or rather question the ability of Fitch. Got me thinking of what part of a fighter would you take to create a super fighter. For instance, the tactics/brain of Randy Cortune, the versatility of Shogun, the technique/style of Anderson Silva, the submissions of Big Nog, the wrestling/takedowns of GSP, the elusiveness of Machida, the power of Brock, the boxing of Belfort, the heart of Matt Hughes, the cardio of Sean Sherk. Pretty much sounds like Fedor!!

by Ryu on Oct 30, 2009 9:53 PM EDT reply actions