It looks like Eddie Alvarez isn’t impressed about the lack of respect he’s getting. The former Bellator lightweight champion is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career over Gilbert Melendez, and it earned him a fight with former UFC champ Anthony Pettis in January. But on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Alvarez stated that he was confused as to why fans would pick Pettis over him (transcription via MMA Mania):
“As an ex-champion myself, it’s always the most highly-motivated, well-trained person you are going to go against. Coming off a loss for your title, you are the most motivated, you’re waking up early, going to bed late. It’s just one of those things where you want to get back and prove to fans and prove to the world that you’re a champion. And, I’m expecting that guy, but that guy won’t be good enough. Not in Boston, not against me.
I just don’t feel however he comes back, the guy he comes back like will not be good enough against myself. It’s just not going to happen. I’m baffled by fan’s perception of this fight, but it makes me more excited to go out there and do what I am about to do. It’s just, I don’t realize how and where fans come up with these predictions. To me, this guy is super popular and they think the world of him, or I don’t know. Maybe I’m seeing something they’re not seeing. But we’ll see. The truth will come in January.”
This will be Pettis’ first fight back since he dropped his title to Rafael dos Anjos in March. The bout between Alvarez and Pettis hasn’t been officially announced by the UFC, but is likely to take place at UFC Fight Night 81 in Boston on January 17th. That card will be headlined by a UFC bantamweight title fight between T.J. Dillashaw and former champ Dominick Cruz.
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