Thiago Alves has smashed his way through the welterweight division and earned himself the biggest fight of his life... a chance at the UFC Welterweight Title. At UFC 100, Thiago “Pitbull” Alves will lock horns against current champion Georges St. Pierre for what should be an electric storm. MMA Sports caught up with Thiago Alves and got his prediction on the fight... “I think it will be a good fight, but I will knock him out.”

Mike: I wanted to start out with the cliche' how did you get started in MMA question?
Thiago: Well, I started training in Muay Thai at 13. I got into that because of Van Damme and Bruce Lee movies. I had my first pro fight when I was 15 and got into MMA after that, and had my first fight/tourny at 17.

Mike: And how did you make the move to American Top Team?
Thiago: Well American Top Team was picking up fighters from all over the world, you know? And I put my profile out there, it made its way over to them, I got lucky and they wanted me.

Mike: Is there much of a difference from the training in Brazil, to the training here?
Thiago: Yeah man, the professionalism is different. Here you can get to a good school, and good trainers… it’s like a business and you can make a living off of it. In Brazil you can still find some great training, but it’s not really a business there yet… and you can’t make a living off of it.

Mike: Looking back at your fight with Koscheck, did it pretty much go how you expected?
Thiago: Yeah. Well I wanted to knock him out, but he is tough… and I didn’t want to get too risky, because I was told if I won I got a title shot, and I really wanted that title shot... so in this next fight there will be nothing holding me back!

Mike: What were your thoughts on the St.Pierre vs Penn fight?
Thiago: I think Georges looked really good in that fight. But like I have said, I don’t think Penn was ready, and I don’t know if the weight class is best for him… he just didn’t show up for the fight.

Mike: How do you think you match-up with St. Pierre?
Thiago: I think it’s a perfect match-up. He is the best wrestler at welterweight, and I have the best takedown defense. He has some pretty good striking, and I have good striking. I think it will be a good fight, but I will knock him out.

Mike: That answers my next question, which was a prediction on the fight?
Thiago: I will knock him out.

Mike: If you knock him out, and get the belt... who do you think would be next in line?
Thiago: I have no idea. Whoever, whatever, you know? Whoever is next I will be more then happy to kick their ass too.

Mike: Out of everyone you have trained with, fought, sparred with...who has hit you the hardest?
Thiago: hmm… Wilson Gouveia. Mike Brown hits hard, and so does "JZ"… you know the ATT guys hit hard… but yeah Wilson has hit me the hardest.

Mike: That’s a popular answer; Denis Kang said the same thing the other day.
Thiago: Yeah man, he hits real fucking hard.

Mike: If they bring a tag team title to MMA, and you get out in the tourny… who do you want as your tag team partner?
Thiago: It depends on who we are fighting... but maybe Marcus Aurelio. I think he would be a good partner. He could kill everyone at 155 and I would kill everyone at 170.

Mike: How did you pick up the name "The Pitbull"?
Thiago: I got that after my first MMA tournament... I knocked two guys out, and after that I ran back stage and was like eating with my hands and stuff… haha. So my coach said my nickname would be The Pitbull. I didn’t like it at first, but after a while I did.

Mike: If you could play matchmaker for a day, what is one fight you would love to set up, and watch as a fan?
Thiago: Let me think... I want to see Minotauro vs Randy, and also Chuck vs Rampage again.

Mike: If they made a movie about your life, who should they get to play Thiago Alves?
Thiago: Me! (laughing) I have no idea man... they would need to find someone good looking, but rough... and really fucking cool!

Mike: Alright man, that’s all I got for you… anything you wanna close with?
Thiago: Thanks for the support, Thanks to my teammates and to God. Thanks to my sponsors Tapout, Auto Excell and Champions Nutrition.

Mike: Thanks for taking the time for this interview, and good luck man!
Thiago: Thanks, it’s my pleasure.