Sam Alvey

Sam Alvey, born on May 6, 1986, in Waterford, Wisconsin, began his journey in combat sports as an amateur in 2007. Initially competing in football and wrestling at Waterford Union High School, where he also played trumpet in the marching band, Alvey continued his musical pursuits at Lakeland College. It was during his college years that he ventured into pankration, which eventually led him to a career in mixed martial arts. His early professional MMA career, starting in July 2008, saw him establish a strong 11-1 record within Wisconsin, including multiple victories in the King of the Cage promotion.

Alvey’s career progressed with a move to Bellator, where he made his debut at Bellator 45 in 2011, securing a split decision win against Karl Amoussou. He later participated in the Bellator Season Five Middleweight Tournament. A significant turning point came with his selection for The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson, where he competed at welterweight. Following his time on The Ultimate Fighter, Alvey joined the Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC), where he won the MFC Middleweight Championship against Jason South and successfully defended it once.

In June 2014, Alvey signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), marking a major milestone in his career. His UFC tenure included a “Performance of the Night” bonus against Cezar Ferreira in 2015 and a “Fight of the Night” award against Julian Marquez in 2021. Throughout his time in the UFC, Alvey moved between middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. After concluding his UFC contract in 2022, Alvey transitioned to B2 Fighting Series, making his heavyweight debut in May 2023 with a TKO victory. He then moved to Karate Combat, where he became the inaugural Heavyweight Champion at Karate Combat 43 in December 2023, successfully defending his title twice since. Alvey, known for his “Smile’n” nickname, holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Outside of fighting, he is married to McKey Sullivan and has five children.