The essential questions to answer are, “how good was (Fighter X) at the time Eddie Alvarez defeated them? How tough were they to beat in that specific fight?” If we’re lacking data, “what form were they in at that stage of their career?” Method of victory, dominance, or other measures, would only add layers of subjectivity and muddy the process.Īt the most basic level we’re evaluating how hard that fighter is to beat, in a pound-for-pound sense. But even before entering the UFC, Alvarez had a number of quality victories worth appreciating. His list of UFC scalps are impressive, especially when you consider they came 13 years into a career defined by drawn-out concussive battles. Not many know about the significance of the fights that put Alvarez on the map, his run through the DREAM 2008 Lightweight Grand Prix. A smaller but even more in-tune audience is familiar with his dominant and exhilarating run as Bellator’s lightweight champion. A more educated tier of fans can appreciate the wins he put together in the UFC and the quality of opposition he faced. While his defense on entries was often spotty, Alvarez’s ability as a counter fighter, wrestler, and combination puncher should not be questioned.Īs the man on the receiving end of one of Conor McGregor’s greatest performances, Alvarez is often overlooked by the mainstream audience. In terms of skill, Alvarez made his money as a wild, athletic wrestle-boxer who was never afraid to earn miles on his chin to get to his best positions. Today, we’ll be looking at the resume of “The Underground King”, Eddie Alvarez. For a more in-depth explanation of that system, you can check out my section of our collective rankings page, or this document containing my own list, which includes the individual ratings of each quality win for dozens of candidates. I personally believe the closest we can get to objectivity is to attempt to rate quality wins, rather than symbolic accomplishments or contribution to the sport. There is no unified criteria among MMA fans or analysts in determining the all-time greats of the sport. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
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