After failing to make the splash many expected during his Octagon debut against Donald Cerrone, former Spike TV mainstay Eddie Alvarez bounced back nicely with back-to-back victories over Gilbert Melendez and former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (see it).
Now, the former Bellator champion wants what he feels is rightfully his, a shot at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 155-pound title.
As Eddie broke it down on The MMA Hour, no one has a resume that rivals his, which means there should be no doubt as to why he should be the one to face the winner of the upcoming championship fight at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016, between Conor McGregor and Rafael dos Anjos.
“I’m next. I’m the No. 1 contender. That’s it. There is no one. Who? There is no one who has done what I’ve done, not in the career that I’ve done it. Been a champion for as long as I’ve been champion, fought the guys I fought and then came into the UFC. Yes, I lost to Donald Cerrone in a split decision, but did I do what most normal guys do and try to pick up a win and get a top 20 guy? No. I fought a guy even higher than Cerrone. I fought Gilbert Melendez after he was ranked No. 3. Then after Gilbert, I fought the No. 1 contender and beat him, there is no one else. I’m next, it’s not even debatable. If you want to debate it with me we can go for days. I’m going to the March fifth fight for Conor and RDA, and we’ll see what goes on there. Everything changes quickly in this sport, but as far as I’m concerned I am next. I don’t see anyone who is even close.”
Of course, the winner of this fight could have something to say about that.
Alvarez revealed he was offered a fight against Tony Ferguson immediately after his win over Pettis. However, he opted to decline the bout as it meant he only had five weeks to get his ankle — which he injured in the Pettis fight — to full health for a showdown against “El Cucuy.”
That said, Alvarez is targeting a return to action in a title fight in June or July.
If those are his plans, then he better be pulling for Dos Anjos to retain his title against McGregor, because should “Notorious” prove the victor, his next fight will more than likely be a featherweight title bout against Frankie Edgar, putting the lightweight belt on ice.
For the record, Alvarez says Rafael should prove victorious against Conor in what he describes as a real “simple” fight for “RDA” to win.