Amilcar in photo by Carlos Ozório
With 11 wins and only one loss, Amilcar is one more Brazilian fighter about to try his luck in the UFC welterweight division. The striking specialist is set to make his organizational debut against Mike Pierce (12w-3l) on August 28 at UFC 118 in Boston, and he doesn’t feel the weight of making his first appearance in the event holding him down.
“Truth is that I really want to fight, I haven’t done so in a while, but I’m happy about making my debut at UFC 118 and for everybody’s support. I want to put on a show, and that’s what’s going to happen,” he forewarns.
Amilcar hadn’t been appearing in the ring on a constant basis in Brazil, but the UFC came a-knocking.
“On the one hand, it’s tough. I chase my opportunities, teach, train… I do a little of everything and there’s still some time to be a fighter. God knows what he’s doing and he didn’t put me in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for nothing. I’m there to prove what I’m capable of, what I can do. These days there are a lot of friends of mine with good records, but they’re having a hard time getting fights. All I can tell them is to not give up. A lot of them deserve to be there more than I do, but their time will come, too.”
Amilcar specializes in muay thai. Photo: Carlos Ozório
Amilcar has done his homework and already knows what awaits him at the other end of the Octagon in Pierce.
“Like all Americans, he’s really good at wrestling. He’s strong and dangerous. I’m training hard to not end up on the bottom, but if that happens, I have the Jiu-Jitsu I train at Nova União and, if he slips up, I can submit him, too.”
“The strategy is set. I’m not worried about pleasing anyone because, if they called me over to fight there, it’s because they liked my appearances so far. I like the way I fight and I think my style will be appreciated over there, since the American public likes standup fights,” he says in closing.
Check out the complete card:
UFC 118
Boston, USA
August 28, 2010
Frankie Edgar vs BJ Penn
Randy Couture vs James Toney
Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard
Demian Maia vs Mario Miranda
Marcus Davis vs Nate Diaz
Joe Lauzon vs Gabe Ruediger
Nik Lentz vs Andre Winner
Gerald Harris vs Joe Vedepo
Dan Miller vs John Salter
Nick Osipczak vs Greg Soto
Amilcar Alves vs Mike Pierce
