Eddie Alvarez won’t get eased into UFC action when he makes his highly anticipated debut against Donald Cerrone during Saturday night’s UFC 178.
Demetrious Johnson and Chris Cariaso headline the proceedings in Las Vegas, but expect Alvarez and Cerrone to steal the show. Both experienced, aggressive fighters bring diverse styles to the table, creating an intriguing clash of tactics.
When a big name transitions over to UFC, he’s usually fed a vulnerable opponent to feast upon for a resounding first impression. That’s not the case here, as Alvarez will receive a baptism by fire against one of the promotion’s premier lightweights in Cerrone, who is riding a four-match winning streak.
How will the Bellator star fare in his first taste of UFC action? Does he have what it takes to make a major statement during his inaugural fight? Let’s take a closer look at UFC 178’s hottest draw.
Fight Breakdown
Both men have carved out an illustrious career in the octagon, but they don’t get their hand raised the same way. While Cerrone is a submission specialist, Alvarez has pummeled the Bellator brethren with knockout victories.
Entering Saturday’s fight at 24-6, Cerrone has obtained 15 of his victories (62.5 percent) via submission. At 25-3, Alvarez has 16 wins via KO to his credit.
Regardless of how the fight ends, viewers can expect a brawl leading up to the finish. Cerrone lands 3.83 significant strikes per minute to Alvarez’s 3.94. Yet the UFC veteran is more prone to getting hit, defending 56.03 percent of opposing hits to his foe’s 63.31.
“Cowboy” didn’t hide that foible, and he doesn’t expect it to change during his upcoming fight. He told ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto that he anticipates being on the receiving end of several blows.
You’re asking me if I’m going to go out and take a lot of punches early on. I try to work on it, but none of it works, you know? It’s who I am. I’ve accepted it. Head movement is hard, especially when you’re fighting someone at the top. Every fight, we’re like, ‘Let’s work on head movement.’ That can be the No. 1 thing. And then it just doesn’t happen. You can expect me to get punched in the head quite a few times by Eddie. I can pretty much guarantee that.
Alvarez isn’t backing down from his fiery approach either. He shared similar sentiments to Okamoto, saying he won’t change an ultra-aggressive style that has worked well for him so far.
For me, I don’t pride myself on being a defensive fighter. I’m not like that in my everyday life, and I’m not going to bring that into the cage. I tend to throw caution to the wind and take risks because I believe I can finish the guy in front of me. I’ve learned to embrace it, be OK with it and keep moving forward. In my 11 years, I’ve been pretty d–n successful with it, so I don’t want to change it.
What happens when two colliding men won’t relent? One way or the other, this one probably won’t go the full distance. If it does, that favors Alvarez, who has never been saddled with a loss by the judges. Cerrone will have to use his submission prowess to force the issue, while Alvarez will need to inflict ample damage after the opening bell.
Although both men feature intricate MMA résumés, one has been busier lately. As indicated by Bleacher Report’s MMA Twitter page, Cerrone has worked more than Alvarez during recent years.
Does he get the experience edge, or does that mean his opponent is fresher? Considering Cerrone is enjoying the roll of his life, the extra work won’t hurt.
Prediction
This is the evening’s toughest bout to handicap, either man could easily leave Nevada with a pivotal victory. Due to fear of the unknown, Cerrone gets the upper hand.
His aggressiveness and submission skills don’t bode well for Alvarez, whose eagerness to make a lasting first impression will prove his downfall. An early knockout is his best chance of stealing a victory, but the smart money is on the UFC veteran.
After a brutal bout, look for Cerrone to make Alvarez tap.
Cerrone, submission, Round 3
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