Rafael da Silva Alves (born November 14, 1990) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Rafael Alves, originally from Icoaraci in greater Belém, started his athletic journey as a disciplined young soccer player with dreams of going professional. He trained with Yago Pikachu and played for Paysandu's Sub-20 team. However, after a bike accident on his way to soccer practice, Rafael decided to focus solely on Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He trained in Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, eventually moving to the United States to further his MMA career. A businessman in Miami helped him secure a fight, and after an impressive winning streak, he caught the attention of UFC president Dana White. Despite the tragedies of losing his parents; his mother to cancer and his father after he was run over by a car, he remains dedicated to helping his family and friends in Brazil.
Alves started his MMA career in 2007 he mostly competed at Brazilian and American promotions, amassing and complied with 18-9 record.
Alves received invite to appear at Dana White's Contender Series 30 where he faced Alejandro Flores. Alves defeated Flores via guillotine choke in second round and earned UFC contract in process.
Alves made his UFC debut against Damir Ismagulov on May 22, 2021, at . He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Alves was scheduled to face Mike Trizano at UFC Fight Night 185, however Trizano suffered ankle injury and was replaced by Pat Sabatini. On February 19 it was announced that Alves missed weight by 11.5 pounds over featherweight non-title fight limit, with the bout eventually being scrapped. Alves blamed the weight miss on eating bad salmon the night before weigh-ins.
Alves faced Marc Diakiese on November 13, 2021, at Alves won the fight via guillotine choke in first round.
Alves faced Drew Dober on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277. Alves lost the bout via knockout in third round after Dober punched him to the body with left hook and send him to the canvas.
Alves faced promotion newcomer, Nurullo Aliev at on February 25, 2023. Alves lost the bout via majority decision.
On March 28, 2023, it was revealed that Alves was released from UFC.
After winning his first bout in Karate Combat, Alves faced James Vick at Karate Combat 47 on June 29, 2024 and won by a head kick knockout.
|- |Win |align=center|21âÂÂ12 |Marcos Vinicius |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Peak Fighting 32 | |align=center| 1 |align=center| 2:25 |Frisco, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|20âÂÂ12 |Nurullo Aliev |Decision (majority) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|20âÂÂ11 |Drew Dober |KO (punch to the body) |UFC 277 | |align=center|3 |align=center|1:32
|Dallas, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|20âÂÂ10 |Marc Diakiese |Submission (guillotine choke) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:48 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|19âÂÂ10 |Damir Ismagulov |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|19âÂÂ9 |Alejandro Flores |Submission (guillotine choke) |Dana White's Contender Series 30 | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:55 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|18âÂÂ9 |Felipe Douglas |KO (punch) |Titan FC 54 | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:18 |Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|17âÂÂ9 |Beibit Nazarov |Submission (guillotine choke) |Titan FC 50 | |align=center|3 |align=center|4:30 |Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|16âÂÂ9 |Guilherme Miranda |Decision (unanimous) |Titan FC 49 | | align=center|3 | align=center|5:00 |Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|15âÂÂ9 |Rudy Morales |Decision (unanimous) |Combate 16 | | align=center|3 | align=center|5:00 |Miami, Florida, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|14âÂÂ9 |Jason Fischer |TKO (injury) |WXC 65: College Throwdown 2 | |align=center| 2 |align=center| 0:50 |Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|14âÂÂ8 |Vagner Rocha |TKO (leg kicks) |Fight Time 32 | |align=center|3 |align=center|2:36 |Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|14âÂÂ7 |Yoislandy Izquierdo |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Fight Time 30 | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:49 |Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|13âÂÂ7 |Alexandre Pimentel |Submission (guillotine choke) |Fight Time 27 | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:54 |Miami, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|13âÂÂ6 |Frank Carrillo |Decision (split) |Fight Time 25 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Miami, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|12âÂÂ6 |Samuel Paiva |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Jungle Fight 75 | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:32 |Belém, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|11âÂÂ6 |Carlos Augusto da Silva |Decision (unanimous) |Coalizão Fight 4 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Benevides, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|10âÂÂ6 |Bruno Tavares |Submission (armbar) |Jungle Fight 68 | |align=center|3 |align=center|1:45 |São Paulo, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|10âÂÂ5 |Breno Moura |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Jungle Fight 63 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:43 |Belém, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|9âÂÂ5 |Tiago Trator |TKO (retirement) |Jungle Fight 45 | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:38 |Belém, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|9âÂÂ4 |Jamil Silveira |Submission (kimura) |Brazilian King Fighter 2 | |align=center|3 |align=center|N/A |Fortaleza, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|9âÂÂ3 |Renan Silva |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Jungle Fight 40 | | align=center|1 | align=center|2:50 |Macapá, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|8âÂÂ3 |Neilson Gomes |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |Jungle Fight 39 | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:30 |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|8âÂÂ2 |Claudio Araujo Neves |KO (front kick) |Icoaraci Vale Tudo | |align=center|1 |align=center|4:19 |Belém, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|7âÂÂ2 |Paulo Robinson |Submission (guillotine choke) |Amazon Fight 15 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:00 |Belém, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|7âÂÂ1 |Reginaldo Ferreira |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Lenox Fight Competition 3 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:55 |Belém, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 7âÂÂ0 | Claudio Ferraz |TKO (punches) |Zero 2 Fight: Vale Tudo | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:44 |Belém, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 6âÂÂ0 | Joelson Guerra | Decision (split) |Lenox Fight Competition 2 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Belém, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 5âÂÂ0 | Iranildo Conceicao | KO (punches) |Jacunda Fight | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:12 |Jacundá, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 4âÂÂ0 | Arielson Silva | TKO (punches) | Icoaraci Rematch of the Year | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:06 | Belém, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 3âÂÂ0 | Giliarde Cardoso | KO (head kick) | Goianesia Fight Combat | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:11 | Goianésia do Pará, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 2âÂÂ0 | José Vagno Soares | KO (punches) | Pepeta Fight Night | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 2:26 | Tailândia, Brazil | |- | Win | align=center| 1âÂÂ0 | Juliano Shanghai | Submission | Balada Fight | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 1:23 | Goianésia do Pará, Brazil |
|Win |align=center|3-0 |Khama Worthy | Decision (Unanimous) | Karate Combat 51 | |align=center|3 |align=center|3:00 |Miami, United States |- |Win |align=center|2âÂÂ0 |James Vick | KO (switch kick) | Karate Combat 47 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:24 |Orlando, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|1âÂÂ0 | EfraÃÂn Escudero |Decision (unanimous) |Karate Combat 44 | |align=center|4 |align=center|3:00 |Mexico City, Mexico |