Eddie Alvarez describes fighting in the main event: ‘It feels like you’re flying’
Alvarez matches up against Jeremy Stephens at BKFC’s KnuckleMania V
Follow Undisputed on Instagram & Facebook
The MMA Notebook runs every Friday.
In this edition:
Eddie Kingston on KnuckleMania V
A Saturday parlay
Predictions
Twenty-two years into his career, Eddie Alvarez still loves to fight
Before his career even started, Eddie Alvarez remembers at least 100 unsanctioned bouts.
If there was a fight, he wanted to be in it.
By 2003, he was ready to go pro–but there was one problem. Alvarez needed to find $250 to pay for his medicals to ensure a spot on Ring of Combat 5 to officially start his MMA career.
Twenty-two years later, he smiles when people ask why he is still fighting–which is exactly what he is doing tomorrow in the main event of BKFC’s KnuckleMania V at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Yes, it’s another paycheck–and he is receiving a lot more than $250 to fight Jeremy Stephens. Yet it runs deeper than that.
It is also another walk down the aisle and into the center of the ring, where all eyes will be fixed upon him. And even if Alvarez, 41, will feel every blow the following morning, he is also aware that he’ll briefly visit the fountain of youth when he steps into combat.
“It’s a different feeling,” said Alvarez. “It won’t last long, but while it does, it feels like you’re flying. It feels like you’re in the air.”
Fighting without gloves is a realm where Alvarez is intimately familiar. This marks his third bout in BKFC. He defeated Chad Mendes in April of 2023, then lost to Mike Perry that December in a gnarly fight that ended by corner stoppage.
“It’s different in BKFC without gloves on,” said Alvarez. “It’s like being fully exposed out there. You’re that much more vulnerable for damage and destruction in that ring.”
Alvarez is still a draw, and BKFC founder and president David Feldman is attaching his faith and finances directly on his back. It will be Alvarez’s first time fighting at home in Philadelphia since Bellator 33 in 2010–and there is a hope internally that KnuckleMania V will challenge Philly’s modern-day combat sports attendance record. The current high mark of 17,411 fans belongs to UFC from an event in 2009, but the possibility exists that more than 18,000 fans could be present for BKFC’s event tomorrow night.
“When you’ve been around combat sports long enough, you know what will work,” said Alvarez. “I didn’t believe it at first. But when I fought Chad Mendes, at that point, that’s when I knew BKFC would work. It’s way different, and there is a different energy. And it’s not competing with the UFC, which is important. BKFC is doing it right.”
The Underground King crafted a legendary career, winning gold in the UFC and Bellator. He has defeated the likes of Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, and Anthony Pettis, as well as headlined Madison Square Garden in a bout against Conor McGregor.
Alvarez played a major role in the rise of MMA, making it appointment-viewing every time he stepped in the cage.
“The way the sport has grown, it’s incredible,” said Alvarez. “This was once branded as human cockfighting. I’ve been told it was too violent to ever go mainstream. This sport is where it is because of the blood and sweat of a lot of fighters–Chuck Liddell, Georges St-Pierre, Matt Hughes, Vernon White, and so many others.
“When I first started, it all seemed so far-fetched. The sport was so new. I was always way more curious than I was afraid. My reality wasn’t that great at that point. I didn’t want to live there. It was much more exciting to go where I dreamed in my imagination.”
Despite all the accolades in the sport–and in spite of the beating he took in BKFC from Perry–Alvarez still yearns for more.
“I’ve hit every milestone, I’ve won every world title,” said Alvarez. “And I know the goal in fighting is not to have to fight. But ever since I was a kid, this is all I’ve known. It’s who I am. It still is.”
McGregor is also expected to be visible at KnuckleMania. As co-owner of BKFC, he first became enamored with the promotion when he watched Alvarez battle Mendes.
“Conor was intrigued about BKFC,” said Alvarez. “When he saw my fight against Chad Mendes, he was surrounded by Karamu Usman, Cowboy Cerrone, and Justin Gaethje, and he felt that energy,” said Alvarez. “We were entertaining the most entertaining fighters in the world. He knew he needed to be involved. I felt the same way he did.”
KnuckleMania V will be broadcast globally on DAZN, but Alvarez’s focus will remain at home in Philly. He just opened a new training facility in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and his goal is centered around the future.
“I’m looking forward to building champions,” said Alvarez. “I’m very excited about that.”
As for KnuckleMania V, Alvarez knows the fight against Stephens (2-0) is bound to be a slugfest. Durable and strong, Stephens is a former UFC star who throws heavy shots–and he will feed off the boos while playing the villain to a hostile Philly crowd.
“We were looking for other opponents, then Jeremy threw his name in the hat to come to Philadelphia,” said Alvarez. “There weren’t a ton of guys willing to do that. And the way he hits, it’s going to be a great fight.”
Alvarez has a long , decorated history in the fight game. He plans on adding a new chapter tomorrow at KnuckleMania.
“I want to be in this fight, so I know people are going to want to watch this fight,” said Alvarez. “I can’t wait to get it started.”
PFL offers top-heavy, easy-to-predict card… which means a parlay is coming
The possibility of a five-fight parlay is there for the taking at tomorrow’s PFL card, permitting you get the main event correct.
If you bet Paul Hughes to upset Usman Nurmagomedov in Dubai, you’re in for a pretty substantial financial gain. But that is far from a lock as Hughes (13-1) will be in for a massive test when he steps into the cage against Nurmagomedov (18-0, 1 NC), the undefeated Bellator lightweight champion.
With Bellator effectively ceasing to exist, the title doesn’t necessarily play a major factor here. This is all about Nurmagomedov extending his streak and the family legacy, especially after Umar Nurmagomedov suffered his first defeat this past Saturday at UFC 311 when he lost against Merab Dvalishvili.
I was confident that Dvalishvili would win. His grappling, as he proves every fight, is elite. That is the same reason I’m picking against Hughes, despite the alluring underdog odds. Maybe Hughes can grapple with Nurmagomedov for 25 minutes. With all due respect to AJ McKee, Hughes has yet to face an opponent anywhere near as talented as the one he’ll see tomorrow. How can you bet on the unknown? For me, I’m sticking with the proven commodity.
Unfortunately, the rest of the card doesn’t offer much. Despite absorbing the Bellator roster, PFL has struggled to incorporate it. In the co-main, Vadim Nemkov should plow through Timothy Johnson. The long-term plan is likely to get Nemkov in a position where he can challenge Francis Ngannou, so there is some interest to that fight. The other three should also be lopsided, with clear favorites in Akhmed Magomedov, Ibragim Ibragimov, and Renat Khavalov.
This one is all about the main event. And I’m going with the champ.
The Pick ‘Em Section
PFL Champions Series 1 Bellator lightweight title bout: Usman Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Paul Hughes
Pick: Usman Nurmagomedov
PFL Champions Series 1 heavyweight bout: Vadim Nemkov vs. Timothy Johnson
Pick: Vadim Nemkov
PFL Champions Series 1 featherweight bout: Akhmed Magomedov vs. Nathan Kelly
Pick: Akhmed Magomedov
PFL Champions Series 1 featherweight bout: Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
Pick: Ibragim Ibragimov
PFL Champions Series 1 bantamweight bout: Renat Khavalov vs. Cleiver Fernandes
Pick: Renat Khavalov