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

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

  • ‘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’

“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.

Christian Lee slams Dagi Arslanaliev to the ground at ONE: Century in Tokyo, Japan.

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.

Eddie Alvarez applies a rear-naked choke on Eduard Folayang in Manila.

“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.”

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