Following a match with Mike Perry that resulted in a busted left eye, Eddie Alvarez had an epiphany about the nature of bareknuckle boxing as a sport.
During the BKFC 56 post-event press conference, Alvarez stated, “This is not for the athletes. You can get away with being an athlete in MMA. You can get away with being an athlete in boxing. You need to be a fighter to be in bareknuckle.”
It’s easy to understand why Alvarez, a former UFC and Bellator champion, would come to that realization. He gave it his all in the BKFC 56 headliner bout against Perry, but Perry absorbed Alvarez’s best shots and retaliated with his own, ultimately resulting in Alvarez’s corner stopping the fight, giving Perry a second-round TKO win and the “King of Violence” title.
Notably, Alvarez isn’t certain which punch caused the injury. He simply knew he couldn’t continue without full vision. “I can’t see. With a guy like Mike, I think I was doing well when I was moving, but then I started getting into a firefight with him, and that’s not something you do with Mike Perry. It was foolish,” Alvarez remarked.
However, Alvarez expressed contentment with his daring move, stating, “Tonight I dared to be great. I went up a weight class with Mike. I did, I really dared to be great. And I thought, with everything in me, I could beat a bigger guy given my skill set, given his style. I’m not going back on anything. I thought I could beat Mike Perry tonight, bigger or not. And I didn’t. I came up short.”
Alvarez went on to praise Perry’s resilience and combat skills. “My hat’s off to Mike Perry. The guy’s a f*cking battle axe. He can take a shot. He can keep plodding forward and give them. He reminds me of myself a lot. I was fighting a little mirror of myself in there tonight, and Mike was the better man.”
Now 1-1 in two BKFC appearances this year, Alvarez remains unsure about his next steps, but he intends to continue with BKFC.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for BKFC 56.
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
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