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 residence. 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 changed into his best nightmare after Alvarez was outclassed on the ft and finally completed with strikes within the second spherical as McGregor claimed “champ-champ” standing by changing 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 advised MMA Preventing. “That was most likely the one time that actually shocked even myself.
“As a result of all through my complete profession, residence or wherever close by, at any time when that highlight’s on me and at any time when the stakes are huge, that’s once I present up huge.”
Alvarez hasn’t truly fought at residence 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 motive 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 to make it as much as my Philadelphia followers,” Alvarez mentioned. “Look, I obtained my shot at Madison Sq. Backyard. I hated the best way I carried out. I hated every little thing about it. However there’s solely stadium higher than Madison Sq. Backyard and that’s the Properly Fargo in Philadelphia.
“I fought all around the world, Russia, Japan, Tokyo, Costa Rica, throughout and through these moments I’ll have had a hiccup or one thing like that however in my hometown, Atlantic Metropolis, Philadelphia, New York, all these locations, I normally present up huge. 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 residence once more, he’s already been bombarded about the opportunity of successful after which calling it a profession afterwards.
Contemplating every little thing he’s already achieved, Alvarez has nothing left to show however as a lot as it’d seem to be the right ending to retire in Philadelphia, don’t anticipate him to make that decision after his battle in opposition to Stephens.
“It’d be fully storybook however I don’t assume there’s any proper, excellent technique to exit,” Alvarez mentioned. “I’m going to be sincere with you, I simply don’t assume there’s. I believe as a result of it will be saying that one battle would decide your complete profession. You possibly can’t try this. One battle won’t ever sum up who I’m, whether or not I received or misplaced it. You possibly can by no means say that was one huge win, you must go now or that was one huge loss, you must go now. I’m outlined by the sum of 20 years of combating and what I’ve completed and the sort of work I’ve put into this. You possibly can 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 will be an absolute storybook to do it at residence. 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 your entire world searching for the baddest motherf*ckers to battle and attempt to turn out to be world champion in no matter promotion I used to be with. That’s what I need to be outlined by. Not only one singular battle, one singular outing.”
Fact be advised, Alvarez nonetheless feels nice and he’s been rejuvenated by his recent 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 recently 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 eternally, Alvarez isn’t going to make any rash choice earlier than or after his subsequent look and he’ll simply wait till a later date to see what is likely to be subsequent for him.
“I began once I was 19. I’m 20, 21 years into this sport. I’ve stored 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 take heed to my physique and sort of peel again. I wouldn’t battle by means of accidents.
“There’s a few issues I’ve completed otherwise than a number of common fighters that permit me to battle so lengthy and have the profession I’ve had. So I simply sort of maintain issues open, permits me to battle so long as I’ve.”
