At Sunday’s UFC Fight Night event in Boston, lightweights Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez meet in a pivotal fight that may determine the man to take on the winner of the recently announced Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor title bout.
Here is a head-to-toe breakdown of how Pettis and Alvarez stack up heading into what could be a show stealer.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis
Fighting out of: Milwaukee
Age: 28
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 155 lbs
Reach: 73 inches
Background: Taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing
Team: Roufusport
MMA record: 18-3
Notable Accomplishments: Former UFC/WEC lightweight champion
Eddie Alvarez
Fighting out of: Boca Raton, Fla, by way of Philadelphia
Age: 31
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 155 pounds
Reach: 69 inches
Background: Boxing, wrestling
Team: Blackzilians
MMA record: 26-4
Notable accomplishments: Former two-time Bellator lightweight champion
STRIKING
Pettis and Alvarez couldn’t be more different as strikers. Pettis is one of the most diverse strikers (and arguably the best) in the division. He has finished plenty of his opponents including Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon with kicks and his “Showtime Kick” is the stuff of legend. Pettis is a headhunter, but his leg kicks and body kicks change fight outcomes as well. His jab is also very good and he has quick hands. Alvarez is the better boxer but needs to be cautious when trading. Alvarez is a pressure boxer. He throws many slick combinations with accuracy and power but is often inclined to brawl. Up close he works his dirty boxing and throws serious uppercuts. Both fighters show good movement and work angles. Pettis has an edge with his kicks as Alvarez has shown in the past a vulnerability to leg kicks and can sometimes leave himself exposed especially when he’s closing the gap.
WRESTLING
While not the strength of either fighter, both Pettis and Alvarez can wrestle if necessary. Pettis can use his wrestling offensively like when he neutralized Jeremy Stephens but defensively he leaves much to be desired. He tends to use his athleticism and uncanny sense of balance to make up for a lack in technique. Alvarez was a promising wrestler in high school but in MMA he primarily uses his wrestling to keep the fight on its feet. Alvarez prefers to brawl but could turn to his wrestling and follow the blueprint set by the likes of Dos Anjos and Clay Guida, both of whom were able to control Pettis.
GRAPPLING & SUBMISSIONS
Pettis is very dangerous off his back. Nearly half the Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt’s wins have been by submission, many coming from when he’s on the bottom. What makes Pettis so dangerous is his ability to lock up a submission when given even the smallest of windows. If taken to the ground, Alvarez will have to watch out for Pettis going for his arm as the triangle choke is one of Pettis’ signature submissions. Pettis can also potentially rock a fighter and sink in a choke to finish them. Alvarez isn’t exactly a submission hunter but he does have a strong rear-naked choke. Still, he should be wary of rolling with Pettis.
CARDIO AND CONDITIONING
Pettis, despite being trounced by dos Anjos for all five rounds, showed spryness and was still attacking throughout. Alvarez had a rough debut against Cerrone in which he uncharacteristically appeared to fade after a strong first round, but showed better conditioning in a high-altitude fight in Mexico City against Gilbert Melendez. This is a three-round affair at sea level and both fighters have gone five rounds multiple times. Neither should have any issues.
SIZE AND ATHLETICISM
On paper Pettis and Alvarez are only one-inch apart in height but their builds couldn’t be more different. Pettis is lanky with long legs, which helps with his rangy taekwondo style while Alvarez is stocky and muscular. The biggest difference is Pettis’ four-inch reach advantage. Both are athletic, explosive, have been hampered by injuries and considered among the division’s toughest fighters.
FIGHTER MENTALITY
Both have been champions so they are used to being in the limelight and performing under pressure. Pettis has grown with Zuffa and consistently faced the very best while Alvarez was long considered the best lightweight outside of Zuffa. Pettis is coming off his most devastating loss and beatdowns like the one he suffered at the hands of dos Anjos often affects fighters negatively. On the flipside, Alvarez is coming off a gutsy win over Melendez in which he won a split decision despite suffering a broken nose and having one eye swell shut. The momentum is on Alvarez’s side here.
BETTING ODDS
Pettis is a sizable favourite. He’s listed as high as -410 while the comeback on Alvarez is as big as +294. Oddsmakers also indicate there’s a good chance the fight doesn’t make it to the judges and have lined that prop at -130.
