Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, Bellator
No matter which publication you favor, you don’t have to look too far down the lightweight rankings before you find the name of Eddie Alvarez. With a record of 21-2, and wins in 11 of his last 12 fights, he is by far the most highly ranked fighter in any division on the Bellator roster.
The across-the-board respect for his impressive resume is a long overdue development for the 27-year-old Philadelphian, whose quest for widespread acclaim — done completely outside the UFC machine — has been a slow burn.
Alvarez has done it with an in-cage work ethic worthy of his city’s blue-collar roots. Philly has always been a notorious fight town, home to boxing greats like Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston and Bernard Hopkins, but with no new pugilists coming to the forefront, Alvarez has essentially filled the void, watching his popularity grow over the last few years. Now, with the promotion’s arrival on MTV2, Alvarez may see his profile and reputation expand even further.