Eddie Alvarez needed nothing greater than to placed on a present in entrance of his hometown crowd in Philadelphia at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 on Saturday however a damaged jaw ended his night time early.
On Monday, the previous UFC light-weight champion confirmed off a ugly x-ray that exposed the injury achieved from his combat with Jeremy Stephens, which got here to an finish after the third spherical. Alvarez’s coaches stopped the combat with Stephens getting the technical knockout and now we all know why “The Underground King” couldn’t proceed.
“Obtained hit with a kill shot within the first or second [round],” Alvarez wrote on Instagram. “I did my greatest to maintain a sport face and ignore it. By the third around the injury was an excessive amount of.
“Please perceive how dangerous I needed this and what I sacrificed so as to win. It wasn’t my night time. Naked Knuckle is as actual because it will get. Unpredictable, quick paced and violent.”
That is sadly the second time Alvarez was stopped in a bare-knuckle combat after the injury he endured simply wouldn’t enable him to proceed.
Again in December 2023, Alvarez began robust however finally couldn’t make it previous the second spherical in his combat towards Mike Perry after he suffered a damaged orbital bone that pressured a stoppage in that combat as nicely.
Alvarez was clearly excited for the prospect to compete at dwelling in Philadelphia for the primary time in almost 15 years when he walked to the ring on Saturday. As soon as once more, Alvarez began robust as he traded punches with Stephens however he then suffered a pair of knockdowns within the third spherical earlier than returning to his nook on the bell.
That’s when his coaches opted to cease the combat to forestall him from taking any additional injury with a dejected Alvarez disillusioned that he wasn’t capable of win in his hometown.
He did give credit score to the complete BKFC KnuckleMania 5 card, which was embellished by jaw-dropping knockouts together with a number of native Philadelphia fighters competing on the bare-knuckle card.
“I’m so completely happy for our metropolis and the way forward for our fight athletes,” Alvarez mentioned. “Whether or not I win or lose will not be as vital as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania slowly turning into essentially the most [dominant] space within the nation for fight sports activities.
“BKFC is the quickest rising and would be the biggest present on Earth. Mark my phrases.”
Alvarez hasn’t addressed his future plans after falling to Stephens on Saturday, particularly with one other layoff anticipated as he recovers from the damaged jaw.
