Eddie Alvarez: The thought of ‘ducking’ Poirier is ‘silly talk’

Eddie Alvarez responds to Dustin Poirier’s claim that he turned down a rematch on five separate occasions.

Last month, surging UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier told Ariel Helwani that Eddie Alvarez turned down several opportunities for a rematch and questioned ‘The Underground King’s’ respect for his opponents.

Alvarez, the former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion, responded on a recent edition of The MMA Hour and said the the thought of ducking Poirier is just ‘silly’.

“The thought of ducking or not signing, that’s just silly talk,” Alvarez said, per MMA Fighting’s Dave Doyle.

According to Alvarez, he turned down a rematch with ‘The Diamond’ around the time he was offered a coaching spot on The Ultimate Fighter opposite Justin Gaethje, who he beat via third-round KO at UFC 218.

The Philadelphia local claims Poirier was ‘angry’ that he didn’t get offered a spot on The Ultimate Fighter.

“I believe I was offered Dustin the first time he was angry,” Alvarez said. “But I was given The Ultimate Fighter show, and I think that’s where all his bitterness comes from. I think he wanted to be on The Ultimate Fighter show, they gave me the gig, and I got paid well for that, and I got a very good opponent. So I basically got a better opportunity than Dustin Poirier and I took it. If that’s ducking, then I’m ducking, yes, But I’ll always take more money and a better opponent over someone else any day of the week.”

Alvarez and Poirier have unsettled business from UFC 211, where a highly entertaining, back-and-forth bout between the two lightweights was ruled a No Contest after Alvarez landed a series of illegal knees in the second round.

Alvarez is currently negotiating the terms for a new contract, and it’s been reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that Ultimate Fighting Championship is interested in booking a rematch between Alvarez and Poirier at the upcoming UFC on FOX card in Calgary, Canada on July 28.