#7
Eddie Alvarez
(Bellator Champion)
Born: | 11/01/1984 |
Weight: | 5'10" |
Weight: | 155 |
Weightclass: | Lightweight World Champion |
Wins: | 22 |
Losses: | 2-0 |
Submissions: | 7 |
TKOs: | 12 |
Decisions: | 3 |
Association: | Fight Factory |
Fighting Style: | Boxing |
Alvarez won the MFC welterweight title in his seventh pro fight in June 2006 when he KO'd Derrick Noble just 1:01 into round 1. The MFC welterweight title would later be re-branded the BodogFIGHT welterweight title.[6]
In spite of the fact that many insiders didn't view 170 pounds to be Alvarez's best competitive fighting weight, he continued to fight larger opponents because he relished the challenge of testing his mettle against bigger fighters.[10] At Bodog Fight's "Clash of the Nations" pay per view in Russia on April 14, 2007, Alvarez's size disadvantage would be exposed, as he suffered his first career loss when he was TKO'd against UFC veteran Nick Thompson at 4:32 into round 2.
After deciding to leave Bodog, Alvarez quickly found a new home in EliteXC where he competed in their 160 pound division against Ross Ebanez, winning by TKO.[11]
A few weeks prior to the first event, it was announced that the upstart Japanese promotion DREAM, started by the minds behind PRIDE FC and K-1 had signed Alvarez to compete in their 154 pound grand prix.
His initial fight was against Andre Amade, another potent striker, hailing from the notorious Chute Boxe Academy. During the fight, Alvarez was dropped by a strong right hand, but was able to recover and use his superior wrestling skills to score a TKO due to strikes from mount late in the first round.[12]
Alvarez advanced to the second round of the tournament where he defeated top ranked lightweight fighter Joachim Hansen on May 11, 2008 by unanimous decision in an exciting fight. Hansen, who was known for his ability to take a punch, was dropped twice in the fight and dazed numerous other times by Alvarez's strikes.[13]
In his fight at DREAM.5, Alvarez knocked out top ranked lightweight fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri in the tournament's semi-finals. The fight was awarded Fight of the Year by Sherdog for 2008. However, he was unable to advance in the tournament due to a cut and severe swelling under his right eye. Alvarez's replacement was Joachim Hansen, whom he defeated two months earlier. Hansen went on to win the tournament and capture the DREAM lightweight title.
Alvarez was scheduled to face UFC and PRIDE veteran Nick Diaz for the EliteXC 160 pound title on November 8, 2008.[14] but that fight was scrapped when EliteXC's parent ProElite closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy. On New Year's Eve 2008 Alvarez fought against Shinya Aoki at K-1 Dynamite!! 2008 , losing by submission in the first round. He has since been signed to an exclusive contract with Bellator Fighting Championships
Alvarez entered Bellator's lightweight tournament at Bellator's inaugural event on April 3, 2009. He fought against Greg Loughran, who landed a left hook which caused Alvarez to buckle his legs. Alvarez survived, however, and submitted Loughran with a guillotine choke.[16] His next fight at the tournament's semi-finals took place four weeks later at Bellator V, against Eric Reynolds. After controlling the bout for two rounds, Alvarez used a rear naked choke to submit Reynolds in the third.[17]
Alvarez advanced to the lightweight tournament's finals, which took place at Bellator XII on June 19, 2009. He fought and defeated Toby Imada, via a rear naked choke submission early in the second round, to become Bellator's first ever lightweight champion.[18]
Alvarez faced Josh Neer in a non-title "Super fight" on May 6, 2010 at Bellator 17 in which he showed great wrestling and standup to go on to defeat Neer by way of rear-naked choke at 2:08 of round 2 as the choke was so well sunk in Neer would pass out from hypoxemia.[19]
Alvarez was supposed to fight the Season 2 Lightweight Tournament Winner Pat Curran in a defense of his title, but his opponent was pulled from the card due to an injury in his right shoulder. He instead faced Roger Huerta at Bellator 33 held in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[20] He won the fight via TKO (doctor stoppage) between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Alvarez has publicly stated he wants his next fight to be against Current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, Gilbert Melendez.
Alvarez defeated Pat Curran on April 2, 2011 via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the Bellator Lightweight Championship at Bellator 39.
