Sam Alvey on his UFC Career & being Karate Combat Champ | TGD Podcast #22

In this episode we sit down with the powerhouse himself, Smile'N Sam Alvey. From his days as a UFC Middleweight contender to his current reign as the Karate Combat Heavyweight Champion, Sam Alvey has seen it all in the world of professional fighting. Join us as Sam dives deep into the contentious topic of fighter pay, sharing his insights and experiences on what it truly means to make a living inside the octagon. With 25 fights under his belt in the UFC, Smile'N Sam offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs faced by fighters when it comes to financial compensation. But that's not all—Alvey also delves into the importance of personal branding for fighters. In an era where social media reigns supreme, he shares invaluable advice on how fighters can effectively market themselves, both inside and outside of the cage. And of course, no conversation with Sam Alvey would be complete without discussing his desire to face off against his friends in the octagon. Tune in as he opens up about his aspirations to go toe-to-toe with former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and other close acquaintances in the world of MMA. Whether you're a die-hard fight fan or simply curious about the inner workings of the UFC, this episode is guaranteed to pack a punch. Don't miss out on this candid and insightful conversation with one of MMA's most respected athletes. (About 9 minutes in the video with Smile'N Sam cuts out due to technical difficulty I used a recording of one of his episode from his YouTube Channel to help fill him speaking if you want to watch the full episode this is from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpDbSY8c_qM&t=1s ) Head over to his YouTube channel linked further down and watch the video titled : 🥇#ANDSTILL! I’m the greatest in the world , Amazing video! #MMA #UFC #FighterPay #PersonalBranding #FriendshipFights #SamAlvey #KarateCombat #seanstrickland This Video is NOT Sponsored, All Products links are Affiliate linkswhich means if you buy something we’lll receive a small commission. Show Notes and Resources 📱Connect W/ Smile'N Sam ➡️ IG @smilensam ➡️ TikTok @smielnsam Youtube:  @SmileNsam  https://www.youtube.com/@SmileNsam Link to Smile'N Sam's Linktree: https://link.me/smilensam?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaWXIXZ8-plmJa66VkwVEVRU9H_4EwpNmiG8XiQ6UUTT5Wr_BVl3PXAv8k_aem_AYn4Pkqrz8VZ_-aQBA0WAqXo0b5xAZd9dQQtWhSxzOlVpmBj7WoS-HcMk3LcUZgOmkMgt6WQEYbSCYKvBIMeud7K ==================================== 📲Subscribe and Listen to The GotDAM Podcast Here: ==================================== Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gotdam-podcast/id1698216234 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegotdampod ============================ Affiliate Links Sanabul: https://sanabulsports.com/GOTDAM Or use promocode GOTDAM at checkout for 10% off ⏰️ Timcodes⏰️ 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - Band Nerd to Fighter 01:44 - MMA Odyssey 02:45- The Origins of Smile'N Sam 03:15- Hardest Fight in the UFC (Nate Marquardt) 04:09- "I wanna fight my friends" 04:34 - "I'd knock the sh*t out of Sean Strickland" 05:14 - Advice from 25x UFC fight vet for up & comers 06:22 - Heavyweight Champion of Karate Combat 08:31 - "It all started with me, I'm why there's an upward trajectory in KC" 09:03 - Instagram  @SmileNsam  09:46 - Next fight in July in Nashville? 10:43 - Come by and train with the Champ at Guardian MMA 11:27 - Advice on UFC contracts 12:14 - Fighter Pay Controversial take " We get paid more than we are worth" 17:28 - The My B*lls was Hot T-Shirt worth Millions 18:57 - "I wish I had more fights in the UFC" 19:50 - Legacy & Retirement 22:52 - "If you k*ll em in the cage you get twice the pay" 23:21 - Check the description for more Smile'N Sam 24:13- Fin