UFC Fight Night 79: Thiago Alves was offered Nate Diaz first, but happy to knock out Ben Henderson instead

Thiago Alves will return to action when he faces former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 79 on Nov. 28, 2015 in Seoul,  South Korea.

But that wasn't the promotion's first option for "The Pitbull."

According to comments he made to MMA Fighting, Alves was first offered a fight against Nate Diaz. But, the Stockton slugger chose a scrap against Michael Johnson, one of the apparent many options given to him, according to Alves.

Nevertheless, Thiago says he's glad to a get such a big fight against "Smooth," but warns the former 155-pound champion that he will without a doubt be going to sleep come fight night.

"First, they offered me Nate Diaz in December at 170. And I told them I wanted to fight at 155 this year or next. They throw me a few options and asked me to fight Ben Henderson at 170. I said sure, Ben is a great name, one of the pound for pound fighters in the world, former lightweight champion, and I am planning on going to 155, so it will be a good introduction into that weight class. I guess Nate didn't want to fight me or something, they give him alot of options. Joe asked me if I could be one of those guys on that list, and I said sure. And then a few days later he offered me Ben Henderson in South Korea. I think it's a great matchup. I think everything that he does matches up very well with my style. I think I definitely will be able to knock him out, I am going to knock him out without a doubt. Again, it will be a good introduction for my weight drop that I am going to do."

Alves was last seen getting battered-and-bruised by former interim Welterweight champion Carlos Condit a few months back (video highlights here). Henderson, meanwhile, made an impressive debut at 170 pounds by taking out Brandon Thatch earlier this year at UFC Fight Night 60 in Broomfield, Colorado.

Now both men look to pick up an all-important "W" when they go toe-to-toe in UFC's first-ever event in South Korea this Fall.

To see the latest lineup for UFC Fight Night 79: "Henderson vs. Alves" click here.

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