Eddie Alvarez

MMAstatsbox


name=Eddie Alvarez
|nick=
height=height|ft=5|in=8
weight=convert|160|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
nationality=American
birthdate=birth date and age|year=1984|month=1|day=11
died=
fightingfrom=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
hometown=Kensington, Philadelphia
fightteam=Fight Factory
fightstyle=Boxing, Collegiate Wrestling
wins=15
losses=1
draws=
nocontest=
ko=11
submissions=2
decisions=2|

Eddie Alvarez is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former BodogFIGHT welterweight champion. Sherdog.com ranks Alvarez as the #2 lightweight in the world. [ [http://sherdog.com/news/articles/6/Sherdog-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-13765 Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings ] ] Alvarez currently competes in Japan for the DREAM promotion, and in the United States for Pro-Elite's EliteXC promotion.

Personal life

Alvarez was born and raised in Kensington, Philadelphia, a rough neighborhood with a reputation for violent crime and an abundance of street narcotics. Growing up just several minutes away from where most of the principle photography was shot for the Rocky movies, Alvarez made a name for himself on the streets of Kensington as one of its toughest inhabitants. Much like the Rocky character, Alvarez overcame a lack of size in various street encounters due to a strong fighting spirit and heavy hands.

Known to many in MMA for his boxing prowess, Alvarez was also a two-time All-American high school wrestler at Northeast Catholic High School. College would not be in the cards for Alvarez though, as he immediately pursued a professional career in MMA at the age of 18. With only eight months of formal training, Alvarez made his pro debut right out of high school.

Due to his lack of formal MMA training, Alvarez initially relied on an extensive street fighting background. He would go on to carry his self-professed undefeated record in unsanctioned fights over into sanctioned fighting, amassing a perfect 10-0 record.

Alvarez utilized the financial success afforded to him through fighting to move his family out of Kensington and into the friendlier confines of Northeast Philadelphia following the birth of his first son, Eddie Jr., two and a half years ago. It was imperative to Alvarez to move his family out of the old neighborhood because he didn't want his son exposed to the same dangerous influences that he grew up around. [ [http://www.elitexc.com/fighter/show/eddiealvarez EliteXC : Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Organization ] ]

Fighting History

Alvarez won the MFC welterweight title in his seventh pro fight in June 2006 when he KO'd Derrick Noble just 1:01 into round 1. The MFC welterweight title would later be re-branded the BodogFIGHT welterweight title after several MFC fighter contracts were transferred over to Bodog, most notably Alvarez's.

In spite of the fact that many insiders didn't view 170 pounds to be Alvarez's best competitive fighting weight, he continued to fight larger opponents because he relished the challenge of testing his mettle against bigger fighters. At Bodog Fight's "Clash of the Nations" pay per view in Russia on April 14, 2007, Alvarez's size disadvantage would be exposed, as he suffered his first career loss when he was TKO'd against UFC veteran Nick Thompson at 4:32 into round 2.

After deciding to leave Bodog, Alvarez quickly found a new home in EliteXC where he competed in their 160 pound division against Ross Ebanez, winning by TKO.

A few weeks prior to the first event, it was announced that the upstart Japanese promotion DREAM, started by the minds behind PRIDE FC and K-1 had signed Alvarez to compete in their 154 pound grand prix.

His initial fight was against Andre Amade, another potent striker, hailing from the notorious Chute Boxe Academy. During the fight, Alvarez was dropped by a strong right hand, but was able to recover and use his superior wrestling to score a TKO due to strikes from mount late in the first round.

Alvarez advanced to the second round of the tournament where he defeated top ranked lightweight fighter Joachim Hansen on May 11, 2008 by unanimous decision in an exciting fight. Hansen, who was known for his ability to take a punch, was dropped twice in the fight and dazed numerous other times by Alvarez's strikes. [ [http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=12714 Advertising at Sherdog.com ] ]

In his most recent fight at DREAM.5, Alvarez beat top ranked lightweight fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri in the first round. However, he was unable to advance in the tournament due to a cut and severe swelling under his right eye. Alvarez's replacement was none other than the man he defeated 2 months earlier, Joachim Hansen. Hansen went on to win the tournament and capture the DREAM lightweight title.

Alvarez is scheduled to face UFC and PRIDE veteran Nick Diaz for the EliteXC 160 pound title on November 8, 2008. [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=7251&zoneid=13]

Fight history

*Former BodogFIGHT welterweight champion. The title was originally known as the Mixed Fighting Championship welterweight title.
*Two time National Prep place winning wrestler while in high school.
*Extensive street fighting background. Claims to be undefeated in unsanctioned fights.

Mixed martial arts record

References

* [http://alvarezfight.com/ Official Website of Eddie Alvarez]
* [http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=9265 Eddie Alvarez MMA record from Sherdog]
* [http://fcfighter.brinkster.net/fighter.asp?FighterID=247266 Full Contact Fighter Database]