Eddie Alvarez has been involved in plenty of big fights.
Alvarez, a 2001 graduate of North Catholic High, is one of the all-time greats in mixed martial arts, and he’s done just about everything there is to do in the world of fighting.
He was the first man to ever win titles in Bellator MMA and UFC.
He dethroned Rafael dos Anjos for the UFC Lightweight championship. He main evented the first UFC card at Madison Square Garden when he battled Conor McGregor for the championship in New York, and he’s engaged in classic battles with top fighters Michael Chandler, Gilbert Melendez, Justin Gaethje and Antony Pettis, and he’s been a star wherever he’s fought.
Alvarez has done just about everything, but there was one huge thing he wanted to accomplish and it’s a goal he’s had for pretty much his entire career.
On Jan. 25, that no longer will be on his to-do list, because he’s going to do it.
Alvarez is going to main event a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship at the Wells Fargo Center when he battles Jeremy Stephens at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 5.
Philly knows full well what Alvarez can do. Whenever he fights, Philadelphia supports him, whether the bout is in Vegas or overseas. But now, his fans won’t have to gather around a TV, they can head to the home of the Flyers and Sixers to cheer on Philly’s hometown hero.
This is something Alvarez has wanted to do for years, and now he’s getting his chance.
“I mean for me it’s the pinnacle of my career,” said Alvarez, who is 1-1 in BKFC. “I’ve been trying to bring any promotion to Philadelphia. UFC I never got to bring them to and even early in my (fighting) career, (mixed martial arts) wasn’t legal. So to come home with Barenkuckle Fighting Championship? It’s crazy. I’m blessed and grateful.
“I told my wife, ‘I think they’re going to consider Wells Fargo.’ We were both a little geeked out. I don’t get too excited until I see things on paper, I’ve seen so many things talked about that never happen. Once it was on paper, I was so excited.”
It’s very important to Alvaerz and his entire family, so since the contract was signed, he’s been all about preparing for the big night.
That means no Christmas cookies, extra food or any time off over the holidays. It’s fight camp time and Alvarez has been balls to the wall just as he is for every fight.
“Look we’ve done so well as a family, my wife and children, we always put fighting first, we understood what it did for our family,” said Alvarez, who grew up in Kensignton and now lives in Bucks County. “It’s allowed us to live in a great area, and live in comfort. Fighting allows me not have to go get a job and have a boss yell at me, and it allows my wife stay at home with my children and be a great mom.
“It’s given us so much to be grateful for. It’s not hard today to sacrifice the sport of fighting. Before we were so blessed, we still put it first, but it would be more difficult. Fighting is No. 1 in my life when there’s a fight. My whole family, we are a team and we did it as a family. We sacrifice, when I fight and we do it together.”
They have a big fight on deck.
Stevens is no slouch.
Like Alvarez, he’s a former UFC fighter and has two fights in the BKFC. He’s not coming to wish Alvarez a warm welcome home, he’ll be out for blood. That’s why Alvarez has been working so hard on this fight.
“Jeremy is a veteran and he has fought everyone, he doesn’t lay down,” Alvarez said. “He’s not an easy guy to fight and he’s fought the who’s who. I believe in myself, moreover, at the Wells Fargo, sold out? I don’t think there’s anyone who can do what I bring to the table. I want to put on a master class.”
Alvarez is very successful in whatever operation he’s fighting in, and whatever bout he’s in is usually the most entertaining.
While very technically sound and a student of the game, few put on better performances than Alvarez because he always goes for the kill and the victory.
It’s not by design, it’s just the way he fights.
He’s also the last guy standing, just as he was when he was a wrestler for the North Catholic Falcons and led them to a Catholic League championship in his senior campaign.
“I’m not trying to be entertaining, not at all,” Alvarez said with a laugh. “I’m not looking to, ‘Oh I need to entertain people.’ I’m trying to win and do it in a violent high-paced fashion.
“My cardio allows me to keep that pace. My cardio allows me to do that. I’m not trying to do anything, I’m just being me and whatever that means, it comes out. I was the same way as a wrestler, I had to rely on my cardio.”
But he’s also not afraid to try anything when he’s fighting.
Sure, he relies on what his coaches tell him, and few give as much credit to their coaches, but he’s not afraid to go for the kill, as he did the night he beat dos Anjos for the UFC crown. After knocking his foe silly, Alvarez landed a flying knee that helped him secure the win.
“That knee was totally improvised, it was literally off the cuff,” he said. “I was in the locker room and someone did it on TV in the fight before me. When I had him hurt, it’s the first thing that popped up in my head and I did it. It wasn’t thoughtful, I just thought it might be a good idea to do it.”
Alvarez is busy turning himself into one of the top stars at BKFC, but he’s also working to turn others into fighters.
He partnered with Jim Worthington at the Newtown Aquatic Club. He has space in there where he opened Eddie Alvaerz’s Underground Kings.
“I partnered with Jim Worthington, with the NAC,” Alvarez said. “We were able to come out of the gates with a beautiful facility. It’s my new home, honestly. The culture of people there is incredible, it’s a full learning environment. Most of our people aren’t pro fighters. They just want to get it. Fighting has given me so much, I just want to give back.”
And on the final Saturday of the month, it will give him a great memory.
“I think we’re on the verge of selling out and it will be the largest combat sporting event in the history of Wells Fargo,” Alvarez said. “It’s important to me, and I wouldn’t want to be (Stevens). He’ll be the Dallas Cowboys that day.”
