Why He’s Always “Smile’n” – Getting to Know Sam Alvey

“Smile’n” Sam Alvey has been all over the map when it comes to MMA. He’s fought for MFC, Bellator, King of the Cage and many, many more. But it appears he’s finally found his home in the UFC.

Before his upcoming bout on February 22, Alvey stopped by MMASucka.com to talk everything from chips and The Ultimate Fighter, to owning his own gym and fighting in the world’s biggest MMA promotion.

First of all, you’re coming off your first UFC victory – a first round KO over Dylan Andrews at UFC Fight Night 55. Were you happy with your performance? The finish? Describe how it felt getting your hand raised for the first time on the world’s biggest stage

[quote]That moment when I got my hand raised was surreal. I have worked so long and so hard to get into UFC limelight, to have finally achieved my first win on the big stage was almost too much for me to handle.[/quote]

Love how you’re always “Smile’n”. Good to see someone so upbeat and happy to be doing what he loves for a living. What keeps you motivated and makes you want to get up every day and do what you do?

[quote]What keeps me going the most is that I love doing this. I have always been someone that would do this for free and yet I’ve worked hard enough that people will pay me. I enjoy pushing my body to the limit and it may be a fault of mine but I love that feeling that I must win or else my life gets much harder.[/quote]

You’re a former MFC Middleweight champion, as well as a former Bellator tournament competitor and King of the Cage fighter – how do those promotions stack up against the UFC?

[quote]The UFC is by far the nicest. They fly me out with the most time before my fight they take care of my food, my family and they do everything they can to make my fight exciting. That being said, the MFC took care of me very well also, they made sure me and my entourage for always taken care of and ready for the fight.[/quote]

You’ve got a fight coming up against Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira on February 22, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 61. How is training going for the fight and how excited are you to be facing an “Ultimate Fighter” winner?

[quote]I am so excited I get to fight the winner of an Ultimate Fighter. I have always claimed since I flopped out of my 170 pound season that I would have won the 185 pound season. This is the chance I get to prove I can back up what I was claiming. Cezar is a stud and by no means will this be an easy fight, but I love the matchup and my training couldn’t be going any better.[/quote]

Speaking of TUF, you were on the Team Carwin vs Team Nelson season, although you eventually lost to Joey Rivera via majority decision. How was your experience on TUF and would you do it all over again the same way if you could?

[quote]Being on TUF was an experience. As soon as I was off the show the answer would have been no, it was not worth doing. But my fighting journey has come so far since then that I can’t help but look back on it and think it was completely worth every minute. Without that experience in my life I wouldn’t be as complete a fighter as I am today.[/quote]

Every fighter has their “cheat”. What tempts you the most during a weight cut – A) Burgers B) Chips C) Chocolate D) Ice Cream E) Other

[quote]My biggest struggle is not to eat chips. In the midst of my weight cutting struggle I get huge cravings for the salty delicious Tostitos chips.[/quote]

You’re 24-6 (with one no contest). 15 of your 24 victories have come via form of knockout. Is it safe to say a beautiful KO is most satisfying for you, or you prefer a slick submission or to drag your opponents into deep water and win a decision?

[quote]I am actually 24-5. There is a loss on my record from when I fought in New Zealand and I will never recognize that loss. I was robbed by a hometown boy, who very likely had his cousins as the judges of that fight. That being said, knockouts are far better than submissions, they’re easier too. I don’t need to do all that work to get a perfect choke or arm bar, I’ve just got hit the guy once. I know the fight is over before he hits the mat. I think the audiences prefer knockouts as well.[/quote]

You’re a full time fighter at Team Quest – but if “Smile’N” couldn’t be fighting, what’s next in line as a career choice and why?

[quote]If I wasn’t a fighter anymore I would be running my own gym. Not an MMA gym, but a fitness gym. I’ve been a personal trainer since I was in high school and I actually went to college to learn how to run a gym. Someday that will be my number one goal again.[/quote]

Training in MMA is tough, do you have a favourite quote or a philosophy you use to keep you going?

[quote]My parents have both given me quotes that I try to live my life by. Dad always tells me, “can’t means “I don’t want too.” Mom says “don’t sweat the small stuff. And you know what, it’s all small stuff.” My entire life and philosophy have been pretty much based one way or another around those two quotes. There is nothing I can’t do and I’m not going to get worked up about things that don’t go my way. I’m just going to stay smiling.[/quote]

Anybody you currently look up to in MMA or anyone you have looked up to in the past? Any fighter past or present you try to model your style of fighting around?

[quote]I don’t particularly model my style of fighting after anybody but I do have my favourites of the sport. The easiest answer is Dan Henderson. He’s been a friend of mine for years and it’s his gym that I train out of. He is just a fighter’s fighter. He doesn’t care who is standing across the cage from him, he just knows that guys going to lose. I am also a big fan of Tom Gallicchio, he has been in this sport and fought some of the best in the world for the last decade and there’s never been a fight he’s turned down. Somebody asks if he wants to fight and his answer is always yes.[/quote]

*Sam Alvey’s next fight against Cezar Ferreira will take place on February 22, 2015 on Fox Sports 1. The main card begins at 8pm ET. Be sure to tune in and watch “Smile’n” in action.

Follow Nate Grotenhuis on Twitter @BurgersMMA

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