Former UFC title contender Thiago Alves signs with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships

Former UFC title contender Thiago Alves has a new fighting home after signing a deal to join the roster at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships.

BKFC president David Feldman confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Wednesday.

“I am very excited to have Thiago on the BKFC roster,” Feldman said. “He is very experienced and always has an entertaining fight. He will make his debut in April or May.

“We really expect big things from him. He’s a great fighter and a great person.”

Alves entered free agency following the end of his most recent contract with the UFC, which is where he spent the majority of his career.

Over the course of 14 years, Alves faced a litany of top contenders on the UFC roster including wins over UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck, Chris Lytle, Patrick Cote and Jordan Mein.

He made his way to a title shot back in 2009 when he faced Georges St-Pierre at UFC 100 but came up short in his bid to become champion, losing a unanimous decision after five rounds.

His last appearance in the Octagon took place last December when he fell to Tim Means by submission and then afterwards said he was going to test the free-agent market before deciding where he would fight next.

Now he will join the roster at BKFC where he joins a host of fellow mixed martial artists, who have made waves for the bare-knuckle fighting promotion.

“I’m really excited for this new moment in my career,” Alves said when speaking to MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz. “I think the Bare Knuckle style matches my style pretty well. I’ll be the 165-pound champion in this organization. The pitbull wants blood.”

The next BKFC event features former UFC fighter Hector Lombard in the main event as well as fellow Octagon veteran Jim Alers, who will also be competing on the main card.