— Below the Belt with Brendan Schaub (@btbshowtime) March 7, 2019
“The idea of free agency today is so undervalued,” Eddie Alvarez told Brendan Schaub on Below the Belt. “Fighters don’t understand. Fighters are captive, kind of, in their own mind thinking, ‘If I’m not here, I’m not going to make money,’ and that’s not the truth.
“There are arenas selling out for MMA all over the world and until you become a free agent and explore that, you’ll never know. When you look at the UFC’s model, $4.4 billion when you look at their model, what do they do? For their infancy, they were on Spike [TV]. They used Spike’s audience. They used everything about Spike and then they jumped to Fox, jumped to ESPN. They don’t re-sign.
“They don’t stay with a company, they use their leverage,” Alvarez continued. “They put up points for that company and then they go to the other girl who wants them even more. Why wouldn’t a fighter do the same thing? Why wouldn’t they become a free agent and go to the next girl who’s willing to pay them? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Eddie Alvarez has fought in several different MMA organizations over the course of his 36 fight career. Having held world titles in practically all of those as well, ‘The Underground King’ has definitely become aware of his value.
After a thrilling and long-awaited eight-fight UFC run, Alvarez explored his options once again and wound up settling with the Singapore-based powerhouse that is ONE Championship.
The former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion will look to capture some more gold in his new fighting home and that begins on May 31 at ONE: A New Era when he kicks off their lightweight Grand Prix against Timofey Nastyukhin.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/7/2019
ONE Championship’s much-awaited return to the U.S. plays host to an intriguing strawweight MMA matchup on its supporting card.
The additional three-round duel pits #4-ranked contender Hiroba Minowa against Sanzhar Zakirov at ONE 168: Denver. The event takes place at the 21,000-seat Ball Arena on September 6.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon lures a familiar foe when he defends the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.
The Thai megastar stakes his divisional throne against #3-ranked contender Jacob Smith in a rematch. This happens at ONE 169: Atlanta, emanating live from the State Farm Arena on November 8.
Jarred Brooks enters his next assignment with an unrelenting drive to win at all costs.
“The Monkey God” reports for duty in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event takes place at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2.
One of the latest success stories emerging from the ONE Friday Fights series is primed for a significant leap.
Nabil Anane makes his main roster debut at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event emanates live from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2.
Carlo Bumina-ang is set for a baptism of fire as he steps into the ring for his main roster debut at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video.
There, the Filipino hard-hitter faces #5-ranked bantamweight MMA contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu. This three-round duel emanates live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2.
Mayssa Bastos is gearing up for what could be the defining moment of her career.
The Brazilian heroine challenges Danielle Kelly for the ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Championship. This happens at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2.
As the anticipation builds for ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video, Gustavo Balart stands on the precipice of a career-defining moment.
There, he squares off with Jarred Brooks for the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Championship. This five-round encounter emanates live in U.S. primetime from the fabled Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2.
Maurice Abevi is poised to play the welcoming committee role for Samat Mamedov as the latter makes his ONE Championship debut.
Both men face off at ONE 168: Denver. This lightweight MMA bout takes place live at the 21,000-seat Ball Arena on September 6.