Rafael Alves is done with the featherweight division, and his first 155-pound 9appointment in the UFC is set for May 15, when me faces Damir Ismagulov at FUC 262 in Houston, TX, sources told MMA Fighting following a report from Ag. Fight.
Alves (19-9) was set to make his UFC debut against Pat Sabatini in February, but came in at 157,5 pounds, a record 11,5-pound overweight after experiencing food poisoning.
The former Titan FC lightweight champion signed with the UFC after stopping Alejandro Flores at Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2020, and said he was already planning on moving up to 155 pounds after that fight under the advice of teammate Colby Covington.