Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez will collide this Sunday (Jan. 17, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 81 inside TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. In a match up of Tae Kwon Doe master and boxing specialist, what adjustments must be made for either man to claim victory? Find out below!
Top-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contenders Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez will go to war this Sunday (Jan. 17, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 81 inside TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Pettis is in an odd situation, as a clearly elite fighter who was badly outclassed in his last performance. It’s been nearly one full year since his title loss, but another highlight reel victory would do far more than time away to remind fight fans of his talent.
Meanwhile, Alvarez is still trying to really establish himself as a top UFC Lightweight after coming over from Bellator MMA. He’s already had an excellent career, but he needs this victory to assert himself into the title picture.
Let’s take a look at the keys to victory for both athletes:
Anthony Pettis
Record: 18-3
Key Wins: Benson Henderson (UFC 164, WEC 53), Gilbert Melendez (UFC 181), Donald Cerrone (UFC on FOX 6)
Key Losses: Rafael dos Anjos (UFC 185), Clay Guida (TUF 13 Finale)
Keys to Victory: Pettis is perhaps the most dangerous kicker in the sport, capable of finishing with a single accurate kick to the body or head. In addition to his excellent and opportunistic Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Pettis is a highly creative fighter.
In this bout, Pettis needs to ensure his back stays off the fence. Alvarez is sure to attempt a pressure style similar to that of dos Anjos and Melendez (he would be a fool not to) and Pettis cannot allow that game plan to be applied to him so easily.
Luckily, Alvarez is also an outside striker, so pressure boxing is not really his forte. Essentially, that means there should be opportunities for Pettis to counter with both hard punches and kicks as Alvarez tries to close the distance.
If Pettis plays his cards right, the finish will come on its own.
However, that is not the case if Pettis walks himself into the fence and is forced to cover up underneath Alvarez’s heavy hands. Pettis has to make sure to circle and angle back, rather than move straight backwards. Otherwise, this will be an extremely difficult fight for him.
VS.
Eddie Alvarez
Record: 26-3
Key Wins: Michael Chandler (Bellator 106), Gilbert Melendez (UFC 188), Shinya Aoki (Bellator 66), Pat Curran (Bellator 39)
Key Losses: Donald Cerrone (UFC 178), Michael Chandler (Bellator 58)
Keys to Victory: One of the finest boxers in the sport, Alvarez is quite fluid with his combinations and movement. Though he’s not often forced to rely upon his other skills, Alvarez is also a very talented wrestler and grappler.
While Alvarez’s usual game involves slick punching set ups from the outside, that’s probably not a great strategy opposite Pettis. The former UFC champion is the far superior kicker — giving him a longer range — and is also the more potent finisher, so Alvarez doesn’t really want to play that game.
Instead, Alvarez needs to walk down Pettis and throw heat. That may not be his usual strategy, but Alvarez is a great boxer who can put together combinations of lethal punches.
It’s a significant adjustment, but it’s one worth making.
If Alvarez can effectively implement a pressure game plan, he’s got a great chance of taking his opponent out violently. Otherwise, Alvarez is likely to be out-gunned.
Bottom Line: This is a spectacular match up of two men desperate to earn a shot at Octagon gold.
With incredible talent and a unique style, Pettis was on the path to become an all-time great and star all at once. Unfortunately for “Showtime,” the oft-overlooked Rafael dos Anjos announced his own greatness by mauling the Tae Kwon Doe fighter.
Luckily, Pettis is still near the top of the division, and a victory here could earn him a title eliminator bout. Before long, he could be in a position to regain all that was lost. However, a second consecutive loss here would be devastating and show that Pettis has serious issues with his game.
This is a similarly vital bout for Alvarez. If he comes up short here, Alvarez has lost two of his three UFC fights. Alvarez has been fighting top contenders, true, but UFC paid top-dollar to lure a fighter away from a rival promotion who could compete for the title. With a loss here, that doesn’t seem likely.
On the other hand, a victory would be huge for Alvarez. On the whole, Pettis has been pretty spectacular inside the Octagon, and defeating him would raise Alvarez’s stock greatly and put him in position to earn a title shot in the near future.
At UFC Fight Night 81, Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez will battle in the co-main event. Which fighter will remain standing when the dust settles?