CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, April 29, 2012 – When it comes to fighters to watch out for at UWF’s Tournament of Warriors, perhaps the first name to come to mind is a man known as “The Legendary,” Flávio Álvaro. With a nickname like that, it’s important to note that he didn’t get it without a price. He earned it through many years of successfully taking on all-comers in his native Brazil. And now he wants to bring that experience with him and use this upcoming tournament to take his career to an even higher level and achieve a dream of earning success on a global level.
Born in São Paulo, Flavio did not pick up the sport of MMA because he saw it on TV, or wanted to become a star. He did it out of need, literally picking up the sport in order to put food on the table.
“My family didn’t have any money,” he says of his humble beginnings. “Before I started fighting, I was just a boy walking on the wrong path of life. I stole, hang around with the wrong people, and I think I would be dead or imprisoned if I never walked into this sport. I love fighting because I became a man because of it. I think it’s a great sport. Now I see organizations like the UFC give lessons for children without money like I was so more people can have an opportunity to use this to succeed in their lives.”
Referring back to his own career, he didn’t have it as easy as kids nowadays when he began fighting seven years ago back in 2005. The scene back home was a lot grittier and in many ways a lot more dangerous. Proof of that fact is littered all over Alvaro’s record.
Initially training with Chute Boxe with a name that should be familiar to Texas fight fans in Legacy champ Jorge “Macaco” Patino along with other camps like 011 MMA and Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu, Alvaro won 16 out of his first 17 fights, making a name for himself by fighting in the regional vale tudo (anything goes) circuit in Sao Paolo and other cities while beating guys like current UFC fighter Diego Nunes.
Whether the fights included gloves or bare fists, standard rules or none, it didn’t matter to him. He would keep going with the same motivation of putting food on the table and making a living in the sport.
Now 38-9 overall, “The Legendary” is still looking to improve every day and make a name for himself in America, now the hotbed of opportunity when it comes to MMA worldwide.
Making his base at Gold Team in Houston along with his old training partner Macaco, Flavio is looking to take the US MMA Scene by storm and it all starts with a solid performance in the opening round of the UWF Tournament of Warriors this Friday when he takes on Team GracieFighter’s Chris Quitiquit – a fighter with designs on using a win over Alvaro to further his own burgeoning career.
Make no mistake about it, this won’t be an easy fight but it’s one the Gold Team representative feels well-prepared for.
“God has helped me a lot and I’m keeping the objective in mind with this fight. I do not think I will have any problems. I think I will win by submission or TKO. Either would be very good. This tournament is a chance for good money and also good recognition here in America so I want to make sure I perform well. I hope for a good fight without any serious injuries for me or my opponent. I’m going to give my all so the crowd will be happy with my participation. I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”
Fight Footage: Flávio Álvaro vs Joel Silva (Rio Heroes 5)
