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Nicolas Atkin

“The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez is slightly bemused by talk he needs to earn a ONE Championship lightweight title shot.
ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong told SCMP MMA last month that former UFC and Bellator champ Alvarez is “one or two fights away” from title contention.
The legendary 36-year-old American (29-6, one no contest) is 1-1 since signing with the Asian martial arts organisation in October 2018, but feels he doesn’t need to prove anything.
“I’ve seen some stuff, some recent media, that if I just get one or two more wins, then I can get back to the title, so I’ll do what It takes,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie Radio.


“I’m healthy, I’m ready to go. They said one or two fights, I don’t even know what that means. I’m not too keen on that,” he added.
“Right now Americans can’t fly over there, so I’m waiting on when all the restrictions get lifted, me and Demetrious [Johnson] are. I’m just excited to get back in the ONE Championship Circle and start competing.”
ONE: stripping Angela Lee of title ‘unfathomable’, says Chatri
Alvarez suffered a shock first-round defeat in the quarter-finals of the lightweight grand prix by Timofey Nastyukhin (13-4) of Russia on his promotional debut at Tokyo’s ONE: A New Era card in March 2019.
Injury withdrawals saw him slide back into the semi-finals, where he defeated former champ Eduard “Landslide” Folayang (22-9) of the Philippines by first-round submission.
But an ankle problem he aggravated in that August 2019 bout in Manila ruled him out of the final a year ago against Saygid “Dagi” Arslanaliev (8-2). Lightweight champ Christian Lee (13-3) stepped in at ONE: Century in Tokyo to win the grand prix belt.

The 22-year-old “Warrior” Lee will now make his first title defence against the undefeated Iuri Lapicus (14-0) of Moldova at ONE: Inside The Matrix on October 30 in Singapore, with Alvarez stuck in the US. The American had been matched up the Arslanaliev earlier this year but the bout was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I want world championships, I want titles,” Alvarez said. “I’ve always been patient. I want bigger names and bigger fights. If I haven’t proved it in the past 17 years that I deserve big names and to be on that big stage and fight for world titles, then you’re just not watching the sport.
“If I can get in front of the champion, great. If not, then I’ll fight the No 1 contender and then get there. So it is what it is, hopefully ONE gets us a title shot.

“I mean no disrespect to the champion, but as many fights as he has, I probably fought for more world title fights than he has actual fights. So I don’t feel like I need to prove my mettle to someone like that.
“He’s talented, a hell of a great fighter, but when it comes to my resume and fighting world champions, I’ve fought one after another.
“And he seems to want to fight me, he’s said in the media I wanna fight Eddie. I’m ready and it’s really just kind of ONE Championship, waiting on them to send an agreement to get him in front of me.”


ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev

ONE Championship: Superbon insists his longevity, success are rooted in discipline over sacrifice

ONE Championship: Mohammad Siasarani finally gets coveted contract – now he wants the belt

ONE Championship: Liu Mengyang believes win over Tawanchai is ‘turning point of my career’

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Eddie Alvarez bemused by title shot snub – ‘one or two fights? I’m not too keen on that’

Eddie Alvarez (left) and Timofey Nastyukhin at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo. Photos: ONE Championship

Christian Lee slams Dagi Arslanaliev to the ground at Century Part 1 in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October, 2019.

Eddie Alvarez submits Eduard Folayang.

ONE Championship: Angela Lee tells ‘entitled’ Denice Zamboanga ‘you don’t deserve my belt’

ONE Championship atomweight champ Angela Lee at her family's United MMA gym in Hawaii. Photo: Instagram

Mixed martial artist Angela Lee raises her atomweight title in the air.

ONE Championship: Denice Zamboanga blasts Angela Lee, calls on pregnant champ to ‘do the right thing’ and vacate title

Denice Zamboanga throws a punch at Jihin Radzuan. Photos: ONE Championship

Denice Zamboanga punches Watsapinya Kaewkhong

ONE Championship: Stamp Fairtex wants to focus on MMA in 2021, starting with atomweight grand prix

Stamp Fairtex during training in Thailand. Photo: Instagram

Stamp Fairtex reacts dejectedly as Allycia Rodrigues' arm is raised.

ONE Championship: Wondergirl Fairtex keen to try MMA as Stamp praises her ‘good technique’

Wondergirl Fairtex is looking to compete again in ONE Championship before the end of the year. Photo: Instagram

Wondergirl Fairtex punches KC Carlos.

ONE Championship working on Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson to return as stage set for international events

Eddie Alvarez celebrates his win over Eduard Folayang in Manila. Photos: ONE Championship

Mixed martial artist Demetrious Johnson holds the flyweight grand prix title.

Aung La N Sang celebrates stopping Brandon Vera.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘I don’t even know what that means,’ former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Alvarez says – ‘hopefully ONE gets us a title shot’
‘If I haven’t proved in the past 17 years that I deserve big names and to fight for world titles, then you’re just not watching the sport’



Eddie Alvarez insists he already deserves a ONE Championship lightweight title shot and brushes off the idea he needs a couple more wins – ‘I’m not too keen on that’.
