Eddie Alvarez is confident that history is on his side.
Alvarez, who owns a 29-6 prized fighting career record, made headlines earlier this week after signing with ONE Championship. It ended his four-year stay with the UFC where he tallied a 4-3-1 record – including winning the UFC World Lightweight Championship last July 2016.
The 34-year-old – who is known as the Underground King – received offers from every big players in the industry during his short time as a free agent. But he had one thing in mind: To make history.
“As far as major organizations are concerned, ONE Championship was the only major organization that I haven’t held a world title in,” disclosed Alvarez in a conference call, Thursday morning.
“I won the Bellator title twice during my career, I won the UFC title during my career, and as far as I’m concerned, ONE is the only major organization that I haven’t got to touch that world title belt.”
For their part, the UFC tried to retain Alvarez. ONE’s offer was simply better for not only his future but also his family’s.
“The UFC did their best – considering what the average pay of an athlete is – I believe the UFC did a great job. They did their best to keep me, but they have a business model. They pay a certain amount to certain fighters for different reasons,” he added.
“But it’s a business first with these promotions and ONE looked out for me, looked out for my family. They understood my wants and my needs and I think it’s important at this point to return the favor.”
Besides the financial security, what attracted Alvarez to head east was how ONE makes the health of a fighter its topmost priority.
As he is still able to compete in the lightweight division, the American can’t wait to face the likes of Eduard Folayang, Amir Khan, or Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev. Better yet, he has a chance now to complete his trilogy against Shinya Aoki.
“I’m looking forward to competing with the best lightweights in the world once again.
“What really excites me is the idea of capturing my third world title in another major organization. I went all across the world and competed in all of the best promotions in the world, and what I really look forward to is winning a third world championship title in ONE Championship against the best lightweights,” he closed.
Alvarez will make his first public appearance as a ONE athlete on Friday, November 9, during ONE: Heart of a Lion. The card is headlined by a double main event that will see Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee challenge Xiong Jing Nan for her ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship. The Philippines’ own Kevin Belingon, who is the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Champion, will have a rematch against ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes.
