By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Josh Hedges

After seven victories in a row at UFC, Thiago “Pitbull” Alves appears to finally get his chance for the welterweight belt. With the unanimous decision victory against Josh Koscheck at UFC 90, the Brazilian fighter had the confirmation he’ll get his title shot at 2009, great news after the tough fight at Chicago. “It was a tough fight, but thanks God I did the strategy we were planning and I went home with the victory”, celebrates Alves, in exclusive interview to TATAME.com, and praising his opponent.

“I knew I’d have a hard fight, but I always go for a knockout. I knew he was tough, but I didn’t knew he’d resist that much, it surprised me. He’s a great competitor and made the fight even better, bore beautiful”, commented Pitbull, who liked the opponent change. “I think it was better, because he defeated (Diego) Sanchez and he’s tougher than him, a better athlete. He’s a great fighter, better ranked, and I think it was perfect”.

For Alves, the seventh victory is the last step before a title shot. “I wanna get this belt and bring it to Brazil. The said that the winner of this fight would get a title shot, and now I have the option to wait (after Georges St. Pierre’s fight with BJ Penn) or do another fight, it’s my choice, but I think I’ll wait”, said Alves, who commented the fight. ”It’s gonna be a tough fight, and I’ll be there watching it. I don’t know who’s gonna win it, but I fight both. I’ll get this belt and the next onw who comes, with all respect, will fall”, guarantees the Brazilian fighter.

Fighting at the welterweight division, Alves commented the special work he does with André Benkei at the preparation for the fight. “I go with 171 pounds at the weight-ins, and then I go to the fight with 198, 199 pounds”, revealed the fighter, who doesn’t wanna think about going up to middleweight division: “I don’t think about it, no way”.