“I don’t give a s*** where [this fight takes place]. I don’t care if they even got a ref in there. Where this thing is and when it airs and where it airs, that ain’t got nothing to do with me. I’m getting a world title shot. I’m getting the opportunity to do something that I’ve been fighting 13 years for. I don’t care where they view this or if they view this at all. I couldn’t give two s***s. I just want that title shot… We can make it [the fight] on the walkway on the way out. We could fight right there. Fighting, it doesn’t matter, man. We’re going to get this thing done, and it’s going to be done violently, in a high-pace, violent fashion. That’s it. It don’t matter what venue it’s on, what channel it’s on, if it’s on at all. The title fight is happening, and Eddie Alvarez is about to be the next Lightweight Champion whether you like it or not.”
-Eddie Alvarez talks to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about his title fight with Rafael dos Anjos and why he doesn’t care about it being on UFC Fight Pass.
Penick’s Analysis: The problem with Alvarez’s take on the title fight is that he needs people to see it for them to care. If he wins the title when no one’s watching does it mean nearly as much? Yes, beating dos Anjos means something regardless of where it happens for him personally, but as a prize fighter who has made financially motivated decisions in the past it doesn’t make sense for him to disregard the realities of better exposure. Of course, the fight being on Fight Pass is a draw to the service, because it’s just the second title fight they’ve put on there.
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