Eddie Alvarez motivated with long-awaited debut at UFC 178

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Eddie Alvarez admits there were times within the past couple of years when he thought he’d never make it to the UFC.

Embroiled in almost a yearlong legal battle with Bellator, which tried to prevent him from crossing over, the 30-year-old mixed martial arts veteran from Philadelphia came to accept that he might not ever fight in the sport’s premier organization.

“It was hard because I felt like I put myself in the right situations,” Alvarez reflected Thursday. “I made the sacrifices I needed to make. I’m not a guy who feels like I deserve a lot, but I felt like I deserved this.”

And now he’s got it. Alvarez (25-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his debut in the octagon Saturday night at UFC 178 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (24-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC).

Looking back, all of the delays may have proved worthwhile. Alvarez was able to avenge his only loss of the past five years in his final Bellator bout.

Alvarez’s split-decision win over Michael Chandler boosted his status as the most prolific fighter outside of the UFC, amplifying fans’ desire to see him face the other best lightweights in the world. On Thursday, images of Alvarez and Cerrone beamed from a digital billboard across the street from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Their fight might be the co-main event of the pay-per-view card, but it’s second to none in terms of interest. Even Cerrone, who’s notorious for wanting to fight every other month and treating every bout the same, has noticed a difference.

“To the public, this is huge,” Cerrone said. “Everyone social-media wise is pumped up for this fight. Eddie’s got some big hype coming with him.”

The process of getting Alvarez into the octagon began nearly two years ago. He became a free agent after an October 2012 knockout of Patricky Freire and signed a contract offer from the UFC.

Bellator exercised its matching rights, though Alvarez and his camp argued the value of the two deals weren’t equivalent given the UFC’s status. Instead of complying with Alvarez’s wishes and offering a release, then-Bellator President Bjorn Rebney took him to court.

Alvarez finally caved, agreeing to a new deal that started to make him think he’d never leave Bellator.

“I feel like the last 10 years, for me, have been practice for this moment,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez isn’t falling in line and acting subservient like so many other new fighters who arrive in the UFC for the first time. Although he didn’t mention any names, Alvarez asked the UFC for an immediate fight when he signed in August.

He wanted to be out of training camp when his wife was due to give birth to the couple’s fourth child in November.

Alvarez already knows what he wants next after Cerrone: He expects to face the winner of the UFC 181 title fight between Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez, scheduled for Dec. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

“I don’t want to waste my time,” Alvarez insisted. “I don’t want to sit here and fight No. 10 or No. 8 or whatever. I feel like I’m ready to fight for a championship. I came in as a champion from another promotion, and I’ve beaten some of the best guys in the world outside the UFC. I’m ready to fight for a title.”

White wasn’t opposed to the idea but espoused his long-held belief that it’s too dangerous to make future plans for someone in their first UFC fight.

He’s seen too many fighters overwhelmed by the atmosphere in their debut.

“He’s never experienced anything like this in his life, and it (expletive) gets to you,” White said.

Cerrone agreed. He knows from experience.

Much like Alvarez, Cerrone arrived in the UFC from another promotion — the WEC — three years ago inspired by the stage.

“When I was making my UFC debut, I was like ‘(expletive), I’m in the UFC,’” Cerrone detailed. “It was breathtaking. You’ve got to rise to the occasion.”

The situation brought out the best in Cerrone, who submitted Paul Kelly in a Fight of the Night performance. Cerrone hopes the same is true for Alvarez so they can cut another bonus check, but says there’s no way to predict how he’ll respond.

Alvarez can’t imagine anything but his best. He’s come too far to give anything less.

“I sincerely feel like, inside of two rounds, I can get him out of here,” Alvarez said. “You never know how the fights are going to go, but I get in there and feel things. I’m sure he’ll leave openings or I’ll create openings, and when I see them, I’m going to attack. I’m going to do it violently, fiercely and put this guy away.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.