Both Rafael dos Anjos and Eddie Alavrez desperately need to destroy one another at UFC Fight Night Las Vegas. Losing is never a good option but an “L” from either man could have thrown their future plans into a pit of fiery flames.
For dos Anjos he not only needed the win to validate his lightweight reign but he still had the scars of missing out on the biggest payday of his career when he was injured and pulled from his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 196. RDA went from a cross division super fight on pay per view to a weekday title defense on UFC Fight Pass. Long fall.
A win for Alvarez would be the crowning achievement of a career that began back in 2003. Alvarez has competed under the Bodog Fight, ShoXC, Dream and Bellator promotional banners. In addition, a win over RDA would allow Alvarez to plant his flag as the only man to hold major titles in both Bellator and the UFC.
Then the fight happened and Vintage Eddie Alvarez just steamrolled an overmatched RDA. Thanks for playing RDA. And your new UFC Lightweight champion is Edward Alvarez!
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!!!!! HIS NAME IS @EAlvarezFight! #AndNew #UFCVegas pic.twitter.com/wvoRScxb0k
— #UFCVegas (@ufc) July 8, 2016
#AndNew @UFC Lightweight Champion @Ealvarezfight, #UFCVegas on @UFCFightPass. #ArmbarNation #UFCFIGHTPASS pic.twitter.com/j7aEJrs6xI
— Team Rousey (@ArmbarNation) July 8, 2016