Patrick Cote Retires After Losing To Amazingly Vintage Looking Thiago Alves

Thiago Alves and Patrick Cote kept the ball rolling for the “UFC 210: Cormier vs. Johnson II” main card with their welterweight contest.

[FIGHT VIDEOS UNDER OFFICIAL RESULT BELOW]

Both Alves and Cote are former title challengers and wanted to prove they have what it takes to claw their way up the rankings for another shot at the gold. Alves got one step closer to a run at gold as he stayed one step ahead of Cote all night, always changing levels and keeping Cote guessing where he was going to strike next.

With a touch of the gloves, the action was underway. Cote went low with a leg kick for the first strike of the fight and Alves countered with a stiff hook. It didn’t take long for Alves to attack the lead leg of Cote, but Cote stood light on his leg to make sure he could check it in time.

Cote went in for a straight jab and quickly caught Alves off guard with a right cross, establishing his reach. Alves cracked Cote with a knee and made him think twice about closing the distance. Still, Cote was able to close the distance and catch Alves off guard with a right hand over the top. Alves clipped Cote with a right and knocked him down, jumped on top of him and went in for the kill. Cote was able to lock him up and recover, but Alves was relentless on top looking for a submission. The round ended with Cote on his back, enduring a flurry of strikes from Alves.

Cote was able to pin Alves up against the fence early on in the second, but it wasn’t long before Alves turned the tables and turned it into a slugfest. Cote backed down and waited for a better opportunity to strike, but Alves kept his distance and waited for the perfect moments to attack.

Alves continued his attack on the leg of Cote before dropping him with a stiff right hand. Alves let him up, hunting for the right moment to strike being patient like he had been all fight. Cote seemed to have recovered, lunging forward trying to land a jab on Alves who evaded it with ease. Alves’ ability to constantly change levels gave him a major upperhand and Cote spent the majority of the fight playing catch up.

An accidental low blow from Alves caused a brief halt in action, and Cote recovered quickly allowing neither fighter to really miss a beat. Alves scored a big takedown just two minutes into the final round. He postured up to establish some ground and pound, and Cote tried his hardest to work his way into an armbar attempt. Alves prevented it by rolling with Cote’s hip-pivot. It wasn’t long before Alves simply let him back up to his feet.

Cote, now bloodied from the ground and pound, absorbed some big shots to the body in the closing minute of the fight to further get slowed down. After the bout, Cote took his gloves off and revealed that this would be his retirement bout, win, lose, or draw. Thank you Cote for years of entertainment!

Thiago Alves def. Patrick Cote by way of Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)