UFC Fight Night 90 : RDA vs Alvarez

UFC Fight Night 90 : Rafael Dos Anjos vs Eddie Alvarez

The UFC returns this week with a bumper International Fight Week with three huge events in the fight capital of Las Vegas. The first of the trio is UFC Fight Night 90 : RDA vs Alvarez.

The bumper three days of fights is headlined on the Thursday night by current lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos vs American veteran Eddie Alvarez. Dos Anjos will be best known to us Irish as for being matched in a huge superfight vs Conor McGregor back in March before having to pull out with a broken foot. The Brazilian now hailing from Kings MMA in America, coupled with extensive training in Evolve MMA in Singapore, RDA has developed into one of the most complete fighters in the game. Having entered the UFC, Dos Anjos went 4-4 in his first 8 promotional fights, but since has gone 10-1 in his last 11 with his only defeat coming to unbeaten and since injury prone Khabib Nurmagomedov. Along the journey RDA has taken out some top contenders with victories over the likes of Donald Cerrone, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, and Nate Diaz. RDA’s last performance was a first round TKO win to defend his strap against Cowboy last December. After the best two performances of his career in winning the title against Pettis and then defending against Cerrone, the pull out from the McGregor fight has left RDA in a testing situation against veteran Alvarez whom has nothing to lose and it all to gain on the Fight Pass card and no PPV views.

Alvarez, a Philadelphia native, has been a pro since 2003. Having fought the best everywhere and being Bellator Champion before entering the UFC at UFC 178. Alvarez dropped a split decision loss to Cerrone on promotional debut before outpointing Gilbert Melendez and Pettis on route to the top of the rankings. While not the most fan friendly style, the hard working effort and grind by Alvarez gives him a chance in every contest he enters.

This fight has five-round dogfight written all over it. RDA deploys a huge output with aggressive strikes and never go backwards style, while Alvarez grinds you down with opportunistic strikes and pushing you up against the fence before taking you down. Neither man knows how to stop even when physically drained and I feel this one is a stone wall certainty to go to the decision.

RDA has the better striking from the distance and in the pockets of 30 seconds before it becomes a clinch battle and attritional warfare, this is where RDA will be able to sway the judges and nick the rounds on route to retaining his title. An Alvarez victory is by no way out of the question and would not surprise me in the least but I’m struggling to pick against the champion for this one. But pick against is what I will do and with the more I analyse the fight the more I become an Eddie Alvarez fan. Alvarez to face adversity and come through to get his hand raised.

Irish eyes will be upon Joe Duffy as he looks to bounce back from defeat against Dustin Poirier. Based in the renowned Tristar Gym, Duffy is a slick boxer with a vicious left jab and hook. His slick striking and ability to put all the shots together will allow Duffy to go a long way in the lightweight division.

Up against him is Mitch Clark is also coming off a defeat in his last bout to Michael Chiesa. Clark is a good all-round fighter who does everything good, but not great. Duffy should have the advantage on the feet but Clark will look to take a leaf out of Poirier’s book and take Duffy down before bullying him on the deck.

I’m picking Duffy to win a decent fight, however the opening round will be poor with both fighter’s being cagey and nervous with their career’s on the line.

Fight Picks :

Rafael dos Anjos vs. Eddie Alvarez – Alvarez wins the close decision

Roy Nelson vs. Derrick Lewis – Nelson KO

Alan Jouban vs. Belal Muhammad – Jouban

Joseph Duffy vs. Mitch Clarke – Duffy

Mike Pyle vs. Alberto Mina – Pyle

John Makdessi vs. Mehdi Baghdad – Baghdad

Anthony Birchak vs. Dileno Lopes – Birchak

Russell Doane vs. Pedro Munhoz – Munhoz

Felipe Arantes vs. Jerrod Sanders – Arantes

Gilbert Burns vs. Łukasz Sajewski – Burns

Marco Beltrán vs. Reginaldo Vieira – Vieira

Vicente Luque vs. Alvaro Herrera – Luque