Eddie Alvarez considers himself a fighter who at all times lives as much as the event and he has the championship belts to show it.
However as he prepares to headline the primary ever BKFC card in his native Philadelphia on Jan. 25, the 40-year-old veteran continues to be haunted by arguably his worst evening on the workplace when he final fought near house. Again in 2016, Alvarez was the reigning UFC light-weight champion and he was set to defend that belt within the first ever UFC occasion in New York Metropolis with a showdown in opposition to Conor McGregor at UFC 205.
What may have been his crowning achievement was his best nightmare after Alvarez was outclassed on the toes and finally completed with strikes within the second spherical as McGregor claimed “champ-champ” standing by turning into the primary fighter in UFC historical past to carry two titles concurrently.
“There’s been one time and everyone is aware of the Conor battle the place I went into considerably close to my hometown and I didn’t present up,” Alvarez informed MMA Preventing. “That was most likely the one time that actually shocked even myself.
“As a result of all through my complete profession, house or wherever close by, at any time when that highlight’s on me and at any time when the stakes are large, that’s after I present up large.”
Alvarez hasn’t truly fought at house in Philadelphia in over 14 years, however he spent a lot of his early profession competing shut by in locations like Atlantic Metropolis, N.J., when MMA nonetheless wasn’t authorized in Pennsylvania.
The prospect to headline the debut UFC card in New York Metropolis nearly felt like a homecoming however even now, greater than eight years later, Alvarez nonetheless laments his poor displaying that evening.
That’s maybe the most important cause why Alvarez is decided to dazzle his hometown viewers when he clashes with Jeremy Stephens in a bare-knuckle battle in January.
“I’ll be capable of make it as much as my Philadelphia followers,” Alvarez mentioned. “Look, I received my shot at Madison Sq. Backyard. I hated the way in which I carried out. I hated every part about it. However there’s solely stadium higher than Madison Sq. Backyard and that’s the Properly Fargo in Philadelphia.
“I fought everywhere in the world, Russia, Japan, Tokyo, Costa Rica, throughout and through these moments I could have had a hiccup or one thing like that however in my hometown, Atlantic Metropolis, Philadelphia, New York, all these locations, I often present up large. I’m wanting ahead to feeling the spirit of the Philadelphia followers behind me on the Wells Fargo on the twenty fifth of January.”
As a result of Alvarez is lastly getting the chance to compete at house once more, he’s already been bombarded about the potential of successful after which calling it a profession afterwards.
Contemplating every part he’s already achieved, Alvarez has nothing left to show however as a lot as it would look like the proper ending to retire in Philadelphia, don’t count on him to make that decision after his battle in opposition to Stephens.
“It’d be fully storybook however I don’t suppose there may be any proper, excellent option to exit,” Alvarez mentioned. “I’m going to be trustworthy with you, I simply don’t suppose there may be. I believe as a result of it could be saying that one battle would decide your complete profession. You’ll be able to’t try this. One battle won’t ever sum up who I’m, whether or not I gained or misplaced it. You’ll be able to by no means say that was one large win, you need to go now or that was one large loss, you need to go now. I’m outlined by the sum of 20 years of preventing and what I’ve finished and the type of work I’ve put into this. You’ll be able to by no means sum it up by one battle anyhow.
“So sure, going into the Wells Fargo, shutting it down on the Wells Fargo, 18,000 screaming followers, it could be an absolute storybook to do it at house. However I’ll by no means be outlined by one battle. One win, one loss, I’ll at all times be checked out as somebody who challenged himself, traveled all the world searching for the baddest motherf*ckers to battle and attempt to turn into world champion in no matter promotion I used to be with. That’s what I wish to be outlined by. Not only one singular battle, one singular outing.”
Reality be informed, Alvarez nonetheless feels nice and he’s been rejuvenated by his contemporary begin with BKFC the place he’s been handled nice and now he will get the possibility to battle in his hometown once more.
He additionally only in the near past opened a brand new coaching facility the place Alvarez hopes to coach a future UFC champion so he’s main by instance with what he’s nonetheless doing in his personal profession.
Whereas he actually is aware of he can’t battle without end, Alvarez isn’t going to make any rash resolution earlier than or after his subsequent look and he’ll simply wait till a later date to see what is perhaps subsequent for him.
“I began after I was 19. I’m 20, 21 years into this recreation. I’ve saved myself wholesome,” Alvarez mentioned. “Steroid free my complete profession. I believe that’s given me longevity. I by no means had a school wrestling profession. That’s given me extra profession longevity. I’ve taken care of my physique. If I had accidents, I’d hearken to my physique and type of peel again. I wouldn’t battle by accidents.
“There’s a few issues I’ve finished otherwise than a variety of common fighters that enable me to battle so lengthy and have the profession I’ve had. So I simply type of hold issues open, permits me to battle so long as I’ve.”
