The two first fought to a no contest at UFC 211 and Alvarez says there was no immediate rematch between the two due to some better opportunities that came his way.
“Immediately after that fight, I was given three to four better opportunities than (to fight) Dustin. I’m just being honest, the fight in the first place did nothing for my stock…nothing for me financially…did nothing ranking wise…did absolutely nothing. It was simply a fight to go do, I had no beneficial gain…by no means. Would Dustin do the same thing of he was in my position? You know what I mean. It wasn’t a matter of me ducking Dustin…not wanting to fight Dustin, it was a matter of that I had better opportunities to fight and gain from than him. Nothing personal against him, that’s how this game is,” says Alvarez during a UFC On Fox 30 media attended by Fightful’s James Lynch.
Those opportunities spoken about by Alvarez included a coaching stint on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 26 and then a bout with Justin Gaethje at UFC 218.
For all the animosity that Alvarez and Poirier have towards each other, one thing Alvarez admits is that Poirier is the right dance partner for him inside of that Octagon.
“It’s a build up, I think styles make fights and when you get the right dance partner…it makes for some magic inside of that cage. Sometimes you can go your whole career without finding that dance partner, never have that audience capture you and that dance partner doing your magic in there. I happen to have a fan friendly style, so does he. We get after each other and get in each others faces, I’m excited to get out there…suffer a little bit and then put on a show,” says Alvarez.
UFC On Fox 30 takes place on Saturday, July 28 from the Scotiabank Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox.
