Joel Alvarez
El Fenomeno
Spain
Gets caught in slick submission
Alvarez lost to Yaroslav Amosov via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:13 of Round 2 at UFC 328 on Saturday in Newark.
ANALYSIS
Alvarez has never been shy about allowing takedowns, as he has always been confident in his ability to win off his back. This is a dangerous game to play against Amosov, a lockdown control grappler with double-digit submission victories. While he was able to use his jab to control range on the feet, Alvarez was outclassed on the mat, leading to a quick tap out after a slam in Round 2. Alvarez came into the organization as a boogeyman at 155 pounds, but it will be interesting to see how he fares at welterweight, a division full of strong grapplers with comparable size. Alvarez fell to 23-4-0 in professional MMA due to the loss.
Alvarez has never been shy about allowing takedowns, as he has always been confident in his ability to win off his back. This is a dangerous game to play against Amosov, a lockdown control grappler with double-digit submission victories. While he was able to use his jab to control range on the feet, Alvarez was outclassed on the mat, leading to a quick tap out after a slam in Round 2. Alvarez came into the organization as a boogeyman at 155 pounds, but it will be interesting to see how he fares at welterweight, a division full of strong grapplers with comparable size. Alvarez fell to 23-4-0 in professional MMA due to the loss.
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Fighting Amosov
Alvarez will take on Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 in Newark on May 9, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Alvarez will head into the bout riding a four-fight win streak in UFC play dating back to July 2023. The 33-year-old Spaniard will take advantages in both height and reach into the bout compared to the younger Ukrainian fighter. With a perfect 17-0 professional record in submission finishes, Alvarez will undoubtedly be looking to use the ground game in this one.
Alvarez will head into the bout riding a four-fight win streak in UFC play dating back to July 2023. The 33-year-old Spaniard will take advantages in both height and reach into the bout compared to the younger Ukrainian fighter. With a perfect 17-0 professional record in submission finishes, Alvarez will undoubtedly be looking to use the ground game in this one.
Plans to remain at welterweight
Alvarez told reporters following his victory over Vicente Luque at UFC Rio that he intends to remain in the welterweight division.
ANALYSIS
Alvarez initially made the jump to 170 pounds for this fight so he could serve as a replacement for Santiago Ponzinibbio, but it sounds like this weight class change may be here to stay. In the 32-year-old's words (via a translator), "going back to lightweight would be suicide for me," indicating that he seemingly had a lot of trouble with past weight cuts to 155 pounds. Alvarez stands at 6-foot-3 with a 77-inch reach, so while his typical size advantage will be gone at welterweight, he is by no means considered small for the division. With four consecutive victories, including three via stoppage, he has a chance to make a relatively immediate impact in the rankings.
Alvarez initially made the jump to 170 pounds for this fight so he could serve as a replacement for Santiago Ponzinibbio, but it sounds like this weight class change may be here to stay. In the 32-year-old's words (via a translator), "going back to lightweight would be suicide for me," indicating that he seemingly had a lot of trouble with past weight cuts to 155 pounds. Alvarez stands at 6-foot-3 with a 77-inch reach, so while his typical size advantage will be gone at welterweight, he is by no means considered small for the division. With four consecutive victories, including three via stoppage, he has a chance to make a relatively immediate impact in the rankings.
Dominates in welterweight debut
Alvarez defeated Vicente Luque via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
Moving up to welterweight following a successful run at lightweight, Alvarez entered as a -600 favorite. He should have earned a Round 1 knockout win was it not for the incompetence of referee Osiris Maia. Alvarez dropped Luque with a punch to the eye and Maia called the fight off. He then backtracked his decision and let Luque see the doctor, allowing the fight to continue. It ended up not mattering in the least, as Alvarez cruised the rest of the way, but he had to put in some extra work. At 6-foot-3, Alvarez was about the biggest lightweight on the roster, so he has the frame to succeed should he plan on staying at 170 pounds.
Moving up to welterweight following a successful run at lightweight, Alvarez entered as a -600 favorite. He should have earned a Round 1 knockout win was it not for the incompetence of referee Osiris Maia. Alvarez dropped Luque with a punch to the eye and Maia called the fight off. He then backtracked his decision and let Luque see the doctor, allowing the fight to continue. It ended up not mattering in the least, as Alvarez cruised the rest of the way, but he had to put in some extra work. At 6-foot-3, Alvarez was about the biggest lightweight on the roster, so he has the frame to succeed should he plan on staying at 170 pounds.
Filling in for Ponzinibbio
Alvarez will fight Vicente Luque at UFC Rio on Oct. 11, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
A hand injury prevented the 32-year-old from fighting Benoit Saint-Denis earlier this year, but Alvarez is now set to make his return against Luque, replacing Santiago Ponzinibbio (undisclosed). Alvarez will be looking to extend his winning streak to four against an opponent who has lost four of his last six.
A hand injury prevented the 32-year-old from fighting Benoit Saint-Denis earlier this year, but Alvarez is now set to make his return against Luque, replacing Santiago Ponzinibbio (undisclosed). Alvarez will be looking to extend his winning streak to four against an opponent who has lost four of his last six.
Moving up a weight class
Alvarez (hand) intends to move up to the welterweight division and is hoping to book his next fight in September or October, Alvaro Colmenero of Eurosport ES reports.
ANALYSIS
Alvarez last competed in December, extending his winning streak to three with his third consecutive finish. He was due for a major step up in competition against Benoit Saint-Denis in May, but the 32-year-old was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury and has been sidelined since. He's now looking to return this fall at a higher weight class, which should play well given the fact he stands at 6-foot-3 with a 77-inch reach. A fight announcement should be on the way in the upcoming months.
Alvarez last competed in December, extending his winning streak to three with his third consecutive finish. He was due for a major step up in competition against Benoit Saint-Denis in May, but the 32-year-old was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury and has been sidelined since. He's now looking to return this fall at a higher weight class, which should play well given the fact he stands at 6-foot-3 with a 77-inch reach. A fight announcement should be on the way in the upcoming months.