Dana White Would Have ‘No Problem’ Seeing Free Agent Eddie Alvarez Sign For Another Promotion If It’s In His Best Interests
“The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez is currently a free agent and UFC president Dana White says he would happily see him fight for another promotion if it is in his best interests.
Alvarez was defeated by Dustin Poirier two weeks ago at UFC Calgary and fought out the last fight on his current UFC deal. The former UFC lightweight champion has yet to comment on whether he will be looking outside the UFC at other offers, but speaking this week on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, White said he would understand if Alvarez took up an offer to fight elsewhere.
“I like Eddie Alvarez,” White said. “I like him personally and I like him professionally. He’s at an age now where he needs to make some decisions for his family in what will probably be the last contract that he signs for the rest of his career. You know, I’m going to place, if Eddie wants to go somewhere else then I’m cool with that, but if Eddie wants to stay I’d keep him here too. I told him that. I told him ‘look, if you want to finish your career here with me then I’d like that, and if you want to finsih your career elsewhere with someone else, then I have no problem with that either man.”
Alvarez has gone 1-2 (1NC) since losing his title to Conor McGregor at UFC 205 and is now arguably further away than ever from getting a title fight following his loss to Poirier. As far as White is concerned, if you’re a fighter approaching one of the final contracts of your career and you aren’t in title contention, then he’s happy for them to look elsewhere for employment.
“When guys get to the point that it’s the last contract that they will ever sign, I understand,” White said. “At the end of the day, what we’re looking for here are young guys that want to be champions. Young guys that believe they can be a champion in the UFC, or girls. If you feel that you can’t be and if you feel that there’s better decisions you can make at this point in your career for the last contract that you will ever sign, I absolutely understand that.”
