Eddie Alvarez Plans To Utilize Grappling, Submit Conor McGregor At UFC 205
UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is steadily approaching his first title defense of his UFC career, and it’s coming on the grandest stage in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Alvarez will main event the UFC’s first event from Madison Square Garden when he collides with featherweight champ Conor McGregor, as he not only attempts to defend his title against the brash Irishman, but will try to stop ‘Notorious’ in his tracks from making promotion history as well. If McGregor is able to emerge victorious this Saturday (November 12, 2016) he will become the first dual-weight champion in UFC history.
Earlier today (Wednesday November 9, 2016) Alvarez participated in an open workout ahead of his UFC 205 main event this weekend, going to work on the same court that the New York Knicks play on each and every home game of the NBA season. Alvarez spoke to media after his workout this morning in New York, courtesy of MMA Fighting, and offered his prediction for how the fight with McGregor will go down Saturday night:
“I think I’m going to land that big shot,” Alvarez said. “I think this guy’s worried about a lot of grappling and a lot of wrestling. I think where it’s going to end up, when his mind’s on that I’m going to land that big shot and then I’m going to submit him.”
As per usual, the Irish are expected to make a huge impact come fight night in ‘The Big Apple’, as McGregor’s native crowd always pours out in support after making the trip down to the states to cheer their fellow countryman on as he goes to war inside the Octagon. Regardless of what the crowd’s reaction to him is Saturday night, Alvarez thanks the fans for coming out to not only support McGregor, but the event itself:
“Hey, I’m blessed,” he said. “Whether you’ve got a red, white and orange flag, it don’t matter what you go. You’re here and I appreciate you guys.”
Alvarez has worked as long and hard as anyone else who has dedicated his life to the sport, securing his first UFC title with his thunderous first round knockout over the now-former lightweight king Rafael dos Anjos in July earlier this year. ‘The Underground King’ is now soaking in the moments leading up to his historical throw-down with McGregor, as he has now found his way to the biggest stage the MMA game has ever seen:
“Magic, pure magic,” he said. “Look, I fought 13 years to put my life to put myself on this stage, in front of the biggest crowd, and I am super-excited to go out there and do something violent, and do something high-paced.”
The lightweight champ has been very confident in his ability to get the job done against the heavy-handed 145-pound champion this weekend, and is looking to ‘make the UFC great again’ he gets the job done.
Alvarez and McGregor will meet in the main event of UFC 205 for the lightweight title live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the Madison Square Garden arena in New York City this Saturday night.
You can check out highlights from Alvarez’s open workout here:
