The news surfaced yesterday that UFC is reportedly interested in booking a rematch between top lightweight contenders Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier for UFC on FOX 30 on July 28 in Calgary. However, Alvarez has different plans, says he wouldn’t take this bout until UFC offers him a new and improved contract first.
“It’s not fucking happening,” Alvarez told MMA Fighting. “I’m not fighting until I get a new deal. UFC needs to stop playing games. They know what I mean.”
Alvarez famously fought Poirier at UFC 211 back in May 2017. The fight was ruled a no-contest because Alvarez drilled some illegal knees to “The Diamond’s” head, who was a downed opponent.
Eddie has one fight left on his current contract and hasn’t fought since scoring a third-round knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 218 last December.
As per Ariel Helwani, UFC wants Eddie to fight in July, so UFC will need to strike a new deal for a former lightweight champion.
Spoke to @Ealvarezfight today. Asked him about the possibility of fighting Dustin Poirier in Calgary on 7/28. “It’s not f*cking happening,” he said. “I’m not fighting until I get a new deal.” Alvarez currently has one fight left on his deal. Also …
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 2, 2018
Asked him if he’s been approached about fighting Nate Diaz on 8/4. He said he has not been offered Diaz for 227. He has long wanted to fight Diaz but reiterated he wants a new deal first. “UFC needs to stop playing games,” he added. “They know what I mean.”
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 2, 2018
Eddie said at last weeks MMA Hour, that he was offered a new deal recently but it wasn’t up to his expectations.
“The only thing we spoke of was re-signing and we haven’t come to that agreement yet,” Alvarez said last week. “So I’m guessing there’s not going to be an opponent or a bout agreement in the mail unless I’m ready to re-sign. So when we come to agreement to re-sign, then I’m sure there will be a bout agreement in the mail.”
Alvarez suggests he only want to return against high profile opponents including Nate Diaz or newly crowned lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Earlier this year, Alvarez revealed his eagerness to welcome Diaz back to the Octagon after seeing his social media post claiming he’s ready to end his long hiatus, but Diaz showed no interest in that.
Diaz is in talks with UFC for to return to Octagon at August 4’s UFC 227 from L.A, but Alvarez said, he would step into any bout until he gets a new deal from UFC.
“I want to sit down with the UFC and just come to an agreement,” Alvarez said last week. “I feel like the best guys are (in the UFC). I still have a couple guys in the division that I want to take out and have on my resume so I definitely have some unfinished business here.”
“UFC needs to stop playing games,” Alvarez insisted today. “They know what I mean.”
Who do you think Alvarez should fight next?
