Eddie Alvarez: I'm not good at losing
After 11 years as professional mixed martial artist, and after spending many of those as a top-ranked international lightweight, Eddie Alvarez finally made his UFC debut last year at UFC 178. The Blackzilian didn't get an easy draw, by any stretch of the imagination.
He faced current No. 1 title contender Donald Cerrone and ultimately lost a unanimous decision after three rounds. The fact Cerrone is as good as it gets provided no solace for Alvarez.
After more than a decade it was, after all, just the fourth time the fighter from Philly had lost. A complete martial artist, just about the only thing Alvarez isn't good at inside the cage is losing.
"It was rough for awhile," he admited to FOX Sports.
"I'm not good at losing. I haven't lost often. I got hurt early in the fight and thought, 'If I keep surviving, I'll get my chance to knock him out,' but that chance never came, and I lost. It took me some time to get over, honestly. But, I did. Getting back in the gym got me pumped up, again, and I'm ready to go."
Alvarez gets his next chance to go this Saturday at UFC 188 against former title challenger Gilbert Melendez. Though this will be the first time these 155 pound stars will have fought one another, they've been embroiled in a rivalry and battle of words for years.
Despite the talk from Melendez, Alvarez doesn't believe that "El Nino" ever truly wanted to fight him. "Before we were in the UFC, we fought in different promotions, all the time. And, everytime he talked about fighting me, he wasn't in a position where he could. That's like talking crap about someone when they're not around," he said.
"Then, when we were both signed with the UFC and people asked him about fighting me he said, 'Oh, Eddie has lost a step.' That tells me that he didn't ever really want to fight me. Sometimes the fight you avoid is the wrong fight for you. He tried to avoid this fight with me, but now he has to, and it's not going to be a good matchup for him."
We ask Alvarez if believing that his opponent doesn't actually want to fight him gives him extra confidence. Does knowing, or at least believing it to be the case, that your opponent isn't all that eager to face you, while you yourself can't wait to get your hands on them, give one a psychological advantage?
"I never thought of it that way," Alvarez admitted.
"I just know who I am. I know why I fight, and I know that I want this fight."
Alvarez had to wait a long time and toil in relative obscurity before getting his chance to fight in the UFC. Now that he's there, the top lightweight has no problem with clawing his way up the rankings after coming up short in his debut.
"I'm ready to get back in there and climb the ladder," he promised.
"This is my time. I'm ready to go for the belt. But first, I'm going to really enjoy fighting Gilbert Melendez."
