Issue 140
April 2016
Eddie Alvarez is finally finding his groove IN the Octagon and aims to add the UFC title to his hoard of championship belts.
Diaogue
Eddie Alvarez, UFC lightweight
Age: 32
Team: Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu / Blackzilians
Record: 27-4
One thing that’s been present throughout most of Eddie Alvarez’s fighting career is the presence of championship belts around his waist. Over the past 13 years in MMA, he’s spent more time as a champion than he has as a contender. In fact, his current UFC run is the longest he’s ever spent without either having a belt wrapped around his waist or at least contesting a title. But that’s a reality he’s desperate to change. As the leading contender at 155lb, Philadelphia’s own highlight reel campaigner insists he’s finally found his feet inside the Octagon and is determined to do whatever it takes to secure a shot at UFC gold.
Q. With your win over Anthony Pettis, do you feel a UFC title shot is next?
A. How cool is that going to be when I win the UFC title? We started a long time ago and it’s the one title that I took my time going elsewhere and getting better at my craft and to get that one last belt to put in the trophy case is going to be a moment of glory, for sure.
Q. Few fighters have résumés that could stack up with yours, but would your career feel incomplete if you ended without the UFC belt?
A. That won’t happen. I mean it. But yeah man, I’ve fought a lot of tough fights over the years to build that résumé. I put in more time than almost everybody on the UFC roster. I have a better record than everybody in the lightweight division and so it’s just about stepping into the Octagon and enjoying it again – and executing.
I don’t know if I’ve even settled in yet and enjoyed a fight I’ve fought in the UFC. This last one (vs. Pettis in January) is the first where I was able to relax and chill and be able to be myself.
Q. Do you regret jumping in at the deep end in the UFC against ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone? That’s top tier competition most guys don’t see right off the bat.
A. When I sat down with Lorenzo (Fertitta) when I signed with the UFC I was clear on my goals and what I wanted to do in the organization. I didn’t want to be built up. I didn’t want to try to create something that wasn’t real. I wanted the best guys they had to offer and they’ve kept their promise. They’ve been giving me one after the other and I’m happy with the way things are going.
Q. You said you wanted all fans to see you as the best lightweight in the world. What does their respect mean to you?
A. This isn’t football or hockey or soccer. It takes a certain amount of character to make that walk out to the cage. To make that walk alone should be applauded. When I see younger fighters fight – and my little brother was fighting for a while, too – when I see them make that walk, my applause starts right there.
It’s a tough sport and it’s hard just to get out there, but regardless of the outcome, just to fight with all your heart and put yourself out there takes a certain amount of vulnerability and humility and a lot of character traits that a lot of people don’t have. I think fans don’t understand that yet and they’re still fixated on the winning aspect of it all – like they are with football and other sports. But the more MMA evolves, the fans are becoming more educated and they’re starting to understand it.
Q. As someone who has fought around the world, would you say other nationalities appreciate a fighter’s mindset more than Americans?
A. They do, but it’s also a double-edged sword. Americans, we’re goddam winners! These other countries you speak about do well, but they’re not number one like America is. Maybe there’s a reason why we think this way and why we cheer the way we do. It’s something to think about that’s for sure.
Q. What are your thoughts on Conor McGregor jumping up to 155lb?
A. I don’t know how long he’s going to be there, but he’s doing well. There aren’t a lot of bad things I could say about him. One thing I can say is that it’s a convenient jump up in weight right now. He talks a lot about wiping out the featherweight division, but he’s conveniently dodging the one guy – the elephant in the room – that poses the biggest threat out of all the 145lb’ers.
He’s fought the likes of Dennis Siver, Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes and even José Aldo. But out of all the featherweights the one guy who poses the biggest threat is the guy he hasn’t faced yet. It’s sad. It’s sad to watch. Frankie Edgar is a training partner of mine. I know the hard work he’s put in and the company guy he has been. I am really hoping McGregor finds it in his heart to do the right thing and actually fights Frankie this year.
Q. What are Frankie’s thoughts about being passed over, at least for the time being?
A. He’s p**sed off. I think everybody’s p**sed off. The coaches are p**sed off, he’s p**sed off… What do you have to do? Go in there and knock out Chad Mendes? He already did that! What’s a guy got to do? I think Frankie is rethinking the way he does a few things in this sport. Maybe he has to be louder and more boisterous and act like an a**hole in order to get what he wants. Who knows, man?
Q. Did you secretly want McGregor to defeat Rafael dos Anjos?
A. There was no secret involved, that guy is money. This is the most talented and rich division in MMA, yet the guys at the top haven’t been bringing in the money like the 155lb weight class should be doing. Conor as a champion would do that. You never turn your back on money – and this is the fight business, at the end of the day. Money is why we’re all in this, to support our families.
Global pedigree
Been there, done that
Over a 13-year MMA career starting when he was just 19, Alvarez boasts 27 wins against just four defeats. He’s fought in eight championship fights, losing just two, and has also avenged 50% of his career losses, against Shinya Aoki and Michael Chandler. The 32-year-old has also competed in six different countries: the US, Canada, Russia, Mexico, Japan and Costa Rica.
