Eddie Alvarez was crowned lightweight champion on Thursday night after he emerged victorious from his bout against Rafael dos Anjos.
The Brazilian had been lined up to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 196, until he suffered a foot injury and was forced to pull out. The so-called superfight between two champions would have been a huge draw, but mainly off the back of McGregor's profile.
That potential pay day may well have been on Eddie Alvarez's mind after he took the belt from Dos Anjos inside the first round in Las Vegas. Alvarez rocked his opponent early on with a huge hit that gave him the upper hand, and allowed him to finish off his opponent with a barrage of strikes.
.@Ealvarezfight blitzes @RdosAnjosMMA to be crowned the new @ufc lightweight champ! 👊 #UFCVegas #AndNew https://t.co/JVi1o2rPHO
— #UFC200 (@btsportufc) 8 July 2016
Speaking after the fight, the newly-crowned champion said he was looking forward to an easier bout the next time out, "like Conor McGregor."
Alvarez would like an easier fight next, "like Conor McGregor." He considers that a gimme fight.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) 8 July 2016
The 32-year-old said that Dos Anjos was, without doubt, the best in the division, and that "to be able to come out with a win over him, and before him was [Anthony] Pettis, and before him was Gilbert [Melendez], these are the best guys in the division.
"I'm not taking on top 15 guys. So I would ask Dana White, please give me an easier fight like Conor McGregor. I deserve that. I've been fighting the best guys, so I would like a gimme fight. So, Conor, I'd more than welcome that."
Via MMA Fighting
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