There’s only a select number of logical opponents Eddie Alvarez can be matched up against.
Eddie Alvarez is the number three lightweight in the UFC. Whatever happens next, he will likely have to fight down the rankings.
Absentee champion Conor McGregor’s beatdown in New York was so definitive it killed any interest in a rematch. Interim champion Tony Ferguson and number two contender Khabib Nurmagomedov are set to headline UFC 223 for the ‘undisputed title.’
That leaves fighters who are ranked below ‘the Underground King,’ and the next two are a no go. He’s a training partner with number four Edson Barboza and he just knocked out fifth-ranked Justin Gaethje. Interestingly, Gaethje has been booked to fight Dustin Poirier in April. This ended the hope of Alvarez and Poirier running their controversial No Contest back anytime soon.
April 14th
FOX Main Event💎 I will shine again 💎 pic.twitter.com/KnK2j5S5jM
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 20, 2018
In December, Alvarez revealed on the MMA Hour that he was going to sit down with Dana White to discuss a megafight opportunity. He has one fight left on his UFC contract and he only wants to put on ‘some stoopid ass fights.’
With all due respect to former interim title challenger Kevin Lee, it’s doubtful that he’s the megafight Alvarez was referencing. His first PPV headliner at UFC 216 against Tony Ferguson drew in a meagre 200,000 buys.
However, there is one man who’s reportedly raked in close to 3 million PPV buys in his last two fights who could be willing. Nate Diaz has hinted at a return to the Octagon in summer 2018 and Alvarez wants to welcome him back.
May-June is perfect @NateDiaz209 , see you then big guy 👊🏻 💥#Eastcoastbeastcoast #Ufcmostviolent
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) January 24, 2018
Alvarez crowned himself the ‘UFC’s most violent man’ after beating Gaethje with no pushback. The self-appointed title was universally accepted because the general consensus is that it’s probably true. With Diaz unlikely to fight for a real strap after a year-and-a-half on the sidelines, this could tick a lot of boxes for him.
