Eddie Alvarez

By FCF Staff

Eddie Alvarez is booked to fight Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night 81 next Sunday, and the former Bellator champ understands that the scrap is a pivotal one for both men.

Pettis will be competing for the first time since last March, when he lost the lightweight title to Rafael dos Anjos. When you consider some viewed “Showtime” as a pound-for-pound, #1 contender prior to that fight, another loss to Alvarez would be a considerable setback.

Alvarez, meanwhile, grinded his way to a decision win over perennial contender, Gilbert Melendez in his last fight. The victory retuned Alvarez to the win column, after he was decisioned by Donald Cerrone. A victory for Alvarez next Sunday would keep the rugged fighter in the title shot mix.

Recently Alvarez spoke to UFC.com about the upcoming fight, and while discussing what’s on the line, he stated this:

“A hundred percent,” Alvarez said, while discussing the fact that many believe he is a litmus test for Pettis. “But more importantly, I’m gonna see what I got. Every fight is never a discovery of my opponent. I could care less about his self-discovery or who he wants to become or whether he wants to be a better form of himself. It’s a selfish thing. I want to see what I’m made of. Am I a *****? Can I hang in there with one eye, a broken orbital, a broken nose? Can I hang in there with a broken leg? How much adversity am I able to overcome and still keep fighting? It’s really for myself, and not the other guy. So every time I step in the cage, I find out a little bit more about who I am.”

UFC FN 81 will be hosted by Boston’s TD Garden on January 17th.