Exclusive | ONE Championship and Eddie Alvarez agree to part ways, source says
- Both parties agree to an early release from his contract, source tells the Post, with former UFC champ having not fought since April 2021
- Despite a rough start in ONE, Alvarez said in July he was still hoping to get details of next fight worked out soon, and to win lightweight title
ONE Championship and Eddie Alvarez have parted ways, a source has told the Post.
Both parties agreed to an early release from his contract, the source said. It is unclear how many fights he had remaining on his deal, but he is now a free agent.
Former UFC lightweight champion Alvarez (30-8, 2 no contests) had not fought in the Singapore-based martial arts promotion since a unanimous decision defeat by Ok Rae-yoon in April 2021.
Alvarez’s unfulfilling ONE Championship stint leaves fans wondering
“The Underground King” later confirmed the news in a post on his official Twitter account.
“I am no longer with ONE,” he wrote. “We parted ways amicably and I remain on good terms with the ONE team.
“I want to thank Chatri [Sityodtong, ONE chairman and CEO] for the opportunity and I look forward to watching their continued success. I’m officially a free agent and ready to hunt.”
Despite a rough start in ONE, where he went 1-2 with 1 no contest, the 38-year-old veteran said in July he was still hoping to get the details of his next fight worked out soon.
The Florida-based American was part of a joint press conference involving ONE and Amazon Prime Video in Los Angeles, and during a question-and-answer session, revealed he intended to stay in the city.
“That’s why I’m in L.A.,” he said. “We’re gonna figure this out while I’m here.”
Former Bellator champ Alvarez had also reiterated his desire to become the first fighter to a win titles in three major promotions, and to help ONE push its brand in the US with its new broadcast deal with Amazon’s streaming service.
“The goal has always been the triple crown,” Alvarez said. “I have fought for every organisation. I’ve pretty much become the champion in every organisation. That’s always been the main goal from the gate.
“But I think ONE is making strides and for right now I think it’s about getting a footprint here in the United States and this is the start of it right here with Amazon Prime.”
However, Alvarez’s time with ONE has not gone the way he planned.
In his first fight under the ONE banner, he was knocked out by Timofey Nastyukhin in the first round at March 2019’s A New Era card in Tokyo.
He then rebounded with a submission win over Eduard Folayang four months later in Manila, securing a spot in the final of the promotion’s lightweight grand prix, but had to withdraw injured.
A frustrated Alvarez returned three weeks later to Singapore to face South Korea’s Ok in a lightweight No 1 contender fight, but got dropped in the first round and went on to lose a competitive decision.
