Alvarez eyes third lightweight title, says ONE offer ‘too good to turn down’

FILE – Eddie Alvarez fights against Dustin Poirier in their Lightweight bout during UFC 211 at American Airlines Center on May 13, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP

Eddie Alvarez has cemented his name as one of the more dangerous lightweights of his era after winning gold in both Bellator and UFC.

And the man known as the “Underground King” has chosen Asia as his next destination on his illustrious career.

Alvarez recently signed with ONE Championship after becoming a free agent and his goal is to complete the hat trick and take the World lightweight title in the promotion.

READ: Ex-UFC champion Eddie Alvarez signs with ONE Championship 

“What really excites me is the idea of capturing my third World title in another major organization,” said Alvarez during a conference call with members of the media Thursday.

“I went all across the world and competed in all of the best promotions in the world, and what I really look forward to is winning a third world championship title in ONE Championship against the best lightweights.”

Alvarez (29-6) became a two-time Bellator World lightweight champion before winning the UFC World lightweight belt in July 2016.

Alvarez’s UFC title reign, though, only lasted for a few months after he lost to Conor McGregor in November of the same year. His last fight in the promotion ended in a loss against Dustin Poirier in July 2018.

READ: ONE launches Super Series for stand-up martial arts

Although he lost his final bout inside the Octagon, Alvarez said UFC tried its best to keep him in its roster but the offer from ONE Championship trumped what the Las Vegas-based promotion gave him.

“I believe the offer from ONE Championship was too good to turn down,” said Alvarez who will debut early 2019. “The UFC did their best considering what the average pay of an athlete is at UFC, the UFC did their best to keep me.”

“But they [the UFC] have a business model, they pay a certain amount for certain players… it’s business first for this promotion but ONE Championship looked out for me and my family, they looked at my needs.”