Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Where will Eddie Alvarez fight next, and if it's the UFC who should he fight first?
Oct 21, 2012 - 11:05:49 PM ROUNDTABLE: Where will Eddie Alvarez fight next, and if it's the UFC who should he fight first?

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Where will Eddie Alvarez's next fight take place? If it's the UFC, who would you like to see him against first?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Four years ago this month, Seth Petruzelli handed Kimbo Slice a defeat which quickly led to EliteXC unraveling. One of the repercussions of EliteXC closing shop was that their fighters became free agents. One of those fighters was Eddie Alvarez. Now, he only fought for Elite once, and only on the ShoXC series, but he was still an EliteXC fighter, which meant that his contract status, at least in North America, was still in flux at the time EliteXC closed their doors.

In November 2008, Eddie Alvarez became the marquee signing for Bellator, which had yet to run their first event. The only television deal they had in the States was on ESPN Desportes, a Spanish language cable channel. While under contract to Bellator, Alvarez even fought once more in Japan for Dream, choking out Katsunori Kikuno at Dream 12. So while the UFC may or not have been an option for Alvarez, it's clear he's willing to surprise the MMA world and choose the path that's more fitting for his family and his wallet than for his desire to be fight for the biggest organization in the world. That's a career path that reminds me a lot of Bibiano Fernandes, who recently signed with the Singapore-based OneFC at a time when he was clearly an unrestricted free agent.

Now, I'm not going to go all the way out on the limb to say that because Fernandes and Alvarez may or may not have a parallel mindset that Alvarez is going to be fighting in southeast Asia for the rest of his career against guys like Kotetsu Boku, Zorobabel Moreira, and Shinya Aoki, all the while hoping that OneFC goes out and signs Jadamba Narantungalag so that he can finally have a fresh top-100 opponent to fight or anything like that. I'm just saying that the idea of signing for 20 grand to show and 20 grand to win with the whispered potential of more cash in the future (if Dana randomly decides that he has the "it" that Jim Miller doesn't have) just might not appeal to Alvarez as much as bringing massive paychecks home to his family for fighting guys less dangerous than guys like Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis, and Ben Henderson.

In the end, I think he debuts in the UFC in the spring against someone like T.J. Grant or Matt Wiman, but don't be shocked if his next fight is in Manila.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I want it to be in the UFC and against a Clay Guida type guy who can take a lot of punishment, but I would also like to see Alvarez face off with Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce, or for that matter see them face off in the UFC since Strikeforce is starting to look more and more like a joke. Alvarez needs a solid opponent to gain some traction in Zuffa, and please dear God don't let this man keep his above and beyond talents in Bellator, he deserves the biggest stage in the world.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think he signs with the UFC. As for his opponent, I would like to see him fight someone like a Donald Cerrone first, someone who is upper-middle tier. If he wins that, he could start making his way towards a title shot with another big win against a high-ranking opponent.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think he will be in the UFC by the end of the year. He is too good and too exciting a fighter for him not to be. If I understand his contract though, Bellator can match any contract offers he might get. At 28 years old now is the time if he has a shot at making his way to the UFC belt. If he signs again with Bellator again, I do not think he will ever get another shot at fighting with the UFC. I think an amazing fight in the UFC would be to match him against the loser of the Diaz vs Henderson. He is ready and this fight would sell gangbusters. Realistically though I think he will get someone like Gray Maynard.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

It isn't like the UFC needs another top lightweight to make that division exciting; so with the probable addition of Alvarez it's easily my favorite weight class right now. He has two options, re-sign with Bellator or head over to the UFC; the latter makes most sense both financially and competively. In terms of who he should fight next; that all depends on how quickly the UFC can get the deal done.

Donald Cerrone or Anthony Pettis would be great possible opponents, but a fight between those two looks more and more likely. So why not give him a tough warm up fight with Diego Sanchez and we'll see if he really has what it takes to make a run at the UFC title. Who wouldn't want to see that fight?

[Eddie Alvarez photo (c) Henry Daziekan III]