Fighter of the Year so far: UFC’s Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves has scored wins over 3 of the top 10 at 170 pounds. Rapidly rising up the welterweight rankings, Alves has defeated Karo Parisyan, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck in the span of just over 6 and a half months. He is the first fighter to stop Parisyan in the UFC and the second to score a KO win over Matt Hughes. His decision over Koscheck this weekend was also impressive as well. So far he is an early candidate for fighter of the year.
The Brazilian “Pitbull” is likely in line for a title shot versus the winner of BJ Penn and Georges St. Pierre.




The only fighter I could’ve seen stealing fighter of the year honors from Alves was Andre Arlovski. He had two great wins, and if he would’ve beaten Fedor in 2008 (big “if”) he would have been right there for fighter of the year. But, as everyone knows the Fedor fight was pushed back to January 2009, so there goes his chances for fighter of the year.