UFC Veteran Sam Alvey Signs With BKFC, Debuts in December

"Smile'N" Sam Alvey is going bareknuckle. The former UFC fighter and two-time Karate Combat champion has signed a multifight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the promotion announced Monday, and is expected to debut on December 4 at a BKFC Fight Night event in Hershey, Pennsylvania. MMA Junkie confirmed the exclusivity covers bareknuckle competition only, meaning Alvey can continue fighting for Karate Combat, where he remains under contract. Since leaving the UFC in 2022 after a 24-fight run, the 40-year-old rebuilt his career in striking-only rulesets: he won the Karate Combat heavyweight title, defended it three times, lost it to Robelis Despaigne last December, then captured the light heavyweight crown this summer by beating Uriah Hall. BKFC president David Feldman hailed Alvey's top-level resume, while the fighter himself set a bold target — becoming BKFC's Ironweight world champion by April 2027. No opponent has been named for the Hershey debut.