Eddie Alvarez wants to be indispensible before UFC negotiation
At this point of his career, Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez says he’s more concerned with building his name than…
At this point of his career, Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez says he’s more concerned with building his name than competing for the UFC.
“I want to be someone so I have some sort of leverage,” Alvarez said Monday on The MMA Hour. “I don’t want to be the next disposable 155-pounder who can be thrown out the window if he has a loss or two. I want to make myself indispensable and make a name for myself before I ever negotiate with a company like [the UFC].”
“I’m one of the top paid 155ers in the world. I don’t know if anybody knows that, but now you do.”
“I can’t tell my three kids, ‘Hey, daddy’s going to take a shot and take a risk and take a paycut and hopefully I make it. It’s got to be more than that for me. I got to secure myself and secure my family.”
“I’m going to do the right thing to become No. 1. That’s one of my main concern, but it’s also to protect my financial security with my family too.”
This Saturday, Alvarez will put his belt on the line against season two lightweight tournament winner Pat Curran at Bellator 39. Curran is another name out there considered a prospect, but not someone who will improve Alvarez’s position in the rankings.
“I pretended that [Curran] was No. 1 in the world,” Alvarez said. “I’m going to perform the way I always perform no matter who I’m going up against.”
