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**Shamrock-Ortiz** · 10-02-2008, 05:04 PM

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...7251&zoneid=13

Quote:

Following a phenomenal run in the inaugural Dream Lightweight Grand Prix, Philadelphia’s own Eddie Alvarez is ready to return to fighting in the United States and his first test appears to be Nick Diaz on Nov. 8 for the vacant Elite XC 160-pound divisional title. The belt was recently stripped from its first holder, K.J. Noons in a dispute between the fighter and the promotion.

Alvarez just recently got married, but as soon as he returned his fight schedule was almost immediately filled with a chance to put gold around his waist.

“I got back from my honeymoon about a week and a half ago and as soon as I got back I was on the horse that Monday,” Alvarez said in an exclusive interview with MMAWeekly.com. “I’ll be fighting Nick Diaz, we’re about 90-something percent positive I’ll be fighting Nick Diaz for the EliteXC title at 160 (pounds).”

While bout agreements have yet to be signed, and EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw would not commit to the bout during an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio Wednesday night, the fight has been verbally agreed to and seems all but a go between to the two lightweight contenders.

After fighting in Japan for most of this year, with a new six-fight contract with EliteXC in hand, Alvarez is excited to return home and face a tough challenge from the always-interesting Diaz.

“Nick’s a great opponent, he poses a lot of threats. Very good striking, as well as good jiu-jitsu, so he’s been in the game a while, he’s a pure fighter and I like that,” commented Alvarez. “He gets a lot of bad rap from a lot of people with his attitude, but deep down he likes to fight, he enjoys to fight and I consider myself the same kind of person. I enjoy to fight, my heart’s in this.”

While competing in Japan, Alvarez made the 154-pound weight limit for the tournament, but he’s excited to fight at 160 pounds when he returns to EliteXC in November.

“I like 160, I feel like at 160 I’m stronger, I’m faster, I’m not as depleted as I am at 155,” he said. “I’m excited, I can’t wait for this to happen.”

Many fans have been clamoring to find out what Alvarez would do next and while a return to Japan isn’t out of the question, the former Bodog champion says that “Dream is behind him.”

Now his focus turns to a title fight against Nick Diaz and he’s already back in training and ready for a showdown that could top his already impressive bouts from earlier this year.

“I think it makes for a great battle and the fans are going to win in the end,” Alvarez stated. “That’s all that really matters, you get paid in the end and the fans are happy.”

I'd expect Alvarez to take the fight. With these guys in there together, should definitely be a fun one.

I hope it comes to fruition.

Arlovski_Fan · 10-02-2008, 05:08 PM

Alvarez via "Going to be my new avatar" KO
I don't like Diaz and can say without bias that Diaz's only hope is on the ground, where he won't take it.

pauly_j · 10-02-2008, 05:15 PM

Yeah, cos of all the people Diaz has faced, Alverez will be the one to knock him out

dontazo · 10-02-2008, 05:34 PM

i think diaz can pull it off!

**mmawrestler** · 10-02-2008, 07:20 PM

This is a great matchup that could go either way,
I'd like to see Eddie Alvarez take it, then go back to dream and win the belt. Alvarez has been more successful than Diaz in these recent 6-9 months, with diaz coming on 9 pounds over and such, Alvarez has been consistant and has freakishly improved in the past year.

**_RIVAL_** · 10-02-2008, 07:28 PM

This is a hell of a LW matchup. It has Serious FOTY potential.

Nick and Eddie are super dangerous. It's hard to call. Alot of people won't give Nick credit as an absolute threat to any LW fighter which I think he is.

Eddie on the other hand is IMO a nightmare to any opponent. He has an indestructable chin and he slings hammers. He's no slouch on the ground either. Man I can't wait for this one. This one is gonna be fireworks.

**The Legend** · 10-02-2008, 11:39 PM

I think I am leaning towards Eddie on this one but am not 100% sure. Also EliteXC is dumb for not putting this on CBS.

**ThaFranchise** · 10-03-2008, 11:55 AM

****, these are 2 guys I expect to be major contenders for the next 7 years or so, why do they have to go against eachother? But as someone said earlier this has FOTY written all over it so Im still pumped to see it. These guys were the 2 most underrated LWs, but now Alvarez is gettin his due after the legendary LWGP performance.

bbjd7 · 10-03-2008, 12:40 PM

Eddie is clearly the better striker with 10x more power. With his wrestling skills Nick won't get him down. This is going to be a 1st round mugging.

Aaronyman · 10-03-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbjd7

Eddie is clearly the better striker with 10x more power. With his wrestling skills Nick won't get him down. This is going to be a 1st round mugging.

yeh...if there is any justice in this world, nick will get embarrassed....

nick would have to pull guard...as his top game isn't that good and alvarez could probably get up from his back....i'd be more scard of being in diaz's guard than anything

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