As far as Eddie Alvarez was concerned, he had a good relationship with the Diaz brothers. He has crossed paths with them many times, especially at DREAM events in Japan. One time, Nick Diaz even offered him medication for a bloody nose, Alvarez said.
When Alvarez arrived in Mexico City last week, though, that relationship seemed to be no more. Alvarez was set to fight Gilbert Melendez, the longtime teammate of the Diaz brothers, at UFC 188. And Nate Diaz, who was in Melendez’s corner, was mean-mugging him every time they saw each other.
“When I went there to Mexico, Nate just kind of changed his tune completely,” Alvarez told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I guess that’s how he is when you’re fighting one of his teammates. I get it. He takes this sh*t personal, he takes it serious. I get it, but I thought it was kind of weird.”
So, after weigh-ins Friday, Alvarez confronted Diaz. He asked him what was up with all the hostility. Diaz explained himself, finishing with: “So f*ck you.” Alvarez said he responded, “F*ck you, too” and added, “If you’re really gonna be like that, then you’re f*cking next.”
Alvarez (26-4), who ended up beating Melendez by split decision Saturday night, was taken aback by the whole situation.
“What are you being like that for?” Alvarez said. “It was really stupid. As if I have something personal against Gilbert Melendez. I don’t know Gilbert Melendez. I can never have anything personal against him. I was there for a check, just like every other fighter there. I didn’t pick out Gilbert Melendez. I got a bout agreement in the mail saying I’m fighting Gilbert Melendez next, so I signed it.”
Diaz slammed Alvarez in an interview with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on Saturday night after the event, saying he didn’t think Alvarez should have won the close decision. But Alvarez said he actually isn’t interested in fighting Diaz next, after all. He just beat Melendez, who was ranked No. 4 among UFC lightweight contenders, and he feels like a Diaz fight wouldn’t make sense. Diaz is coming off a loss to current lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 13 in December.
“He’d honestly be a step backward right now and considering he hasn’t really been active it just wouldn’t make sense,” Alvarez said. “I never pick fights. If I get a bout agreement in the mail, I’ll sign it. I’m just letting you know that.”
Alvarez, 31, would much rather take a fight that would point him toward a title. He still doesn’t quite understand why Diaz had an attitude with him, though.
“He said some dumb sh*t like that and was looking at me,” Alvarez said. “It’s foolish. It’s really stupid. If that’s what gets him to the fight and gets him riled up, then whatever. He just hasn’t been fighting, and I think he has a lot of pent up stuff or whatever his deal is. It’s whatever. It happened and it’s over with.”