“I’m learning over 13 years of fighting that everyone wants Tank Abbott. I’m not Tank Abbott. I’m not going to be Tank Abbott. I can’t do that every single fight. I want to be tactical, but I want to win… It also takes the right dance partner, and it takes the right opponent to get in front of me. I like this guy, Rafael dos Anjos. He fights violent. He fights at a high pace. This is the guy that’s going to bring that out of me. Anthony Pettis wasn’t the guy to bring that out of me. He was simple to hold down, and I did what I wanted against him. This guy will help bring that dog out of me and bring that fight. I’m looking forward to putting someone dangerous in front of me, put my back against the wall and bring out that side in me.”
-Eddie Alvarez fired back at critics of his recent fights during the International Fight Week press conference prior to UFC 197 in Las Vegas (via MMAJunkie.com).
Penick’s Analysis: Obviously Pettis’ lack of aggression made it easier for Alvarez to control him to a decision, and Gilbert Melendez let off in that fight leaving it less action packed down the stretch. Alvarez responds well when pressured, and he’s shown off that exciting style in the past, but it’s hard to hold victory against him even if the two UFC wins he’s recorded have been less than exciting. He’s gotten his biggest opportunity yet because of it. If he fights like that again and fails against dos Anjos, there’s criticism to be levied, but he’s been successful enough to get this shot, and he hasn’t suffered a ton of damage on the way.
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