Eddie Alvarez shares a rich history with the majority of the fighters that competed in the main and co-main events of UFC 257.
In a pivotal night for the UFC’s lightweight division, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler reigned supreme Jan. 23 as they positioned themselves at the top of the 155-pound ladder.
Having gone into battle with Conor McGregor and both Poirier and Chandler twice, Alvarez (30-7) admits he was a little surprised with the way things panned out at UFC 257.
Poirier scored an upset finish of McGregor in the night’s headliner, while former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler made quick work of Dan Hooker in the co-main event.
In a night of unexpected results, Alvarez admits there was some personal satisfaction seeing the underdogs cash in with big performances.
“Dustin Poirier putting on them sprints that he puts on, I thought that would be the best way that he could get it done,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “I agreed that if he gave Conor the space that Conor can relax and create stuff that he’d have a bad night. But Dustin just fought a beautiful game plan by kicking that leg and then putting a short sprint on him and being able to cause him to panic and put him away.
“And then Mike Chandler coming out and, in your debut, with all that pressure, with all them people saying, ‘You’re not this and you’re not that,’ to be able to go out there and execute the way he did, it was just a beautiful night for MMA. I think a lot of times in this sport, they don’t care if you’re the bad guy or good guy. The fight gods give the winner to whoever the winner is, and the good guys conquered that night. It doesn’t always go that way, but it’s beautiful when it does.”
Alvarez, who has captured lightweight titles in both the UFC and Bellator, is on a quest to add another major title to his resume in ONE Championship. His next outing will see him take on fellow contender Iuri Lapicus at ONE on TNT 1 on April 7.
Eddie Alvarez hails Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler’s UFC 257 wins: ‘The good guys conquered’
