“The fans, man, the fans have a little different way of thinking. They really applaud the spirit of fighters, and that put a huge influence on the type of energy I fought with, rather than if I won or lost. America's a real win-or-lose culture, where with the Japanese, fighting with spirit is enough.”

American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer

Eddie Alvarez is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer. He competed in the Lightweight divisions of the UFC and Bellator MMA, and later fought in the Welterweight division of BKFC. He is known for winning the UFC Lightweight Championship and for being Bellator’s inaugural Lightweight Champion, a title he won twice. He also fought for DREAM, ONE FC, and EliteXC, including appearances in the inaugural DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix and ONE FC’s 2019 Lightweight World Grand Prix.