Joel Alvarez (22-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has definitely earned the best to name his shot in the case of who he’d prefer to sq. off in opposition to on the opposite aspect of the famed UFC Octagon in his first contest of his 2025 itinerary. Scoring a highlight-reel knockout within the opening spherical of his undercard battle in opposition to Drakkar Klose (15-3-1 MMA, 9-3 UFC), he’s already clamoring for one more contest after the calendar turns over to 2025.
If Joel Alvarez will get his needs, he’ll solely have one battle remaining as a light-weight for his first contest in 2025, wherever it’s or whoever will probably be in opposition to.
Joel Alvarez Calls Out UFC Legend As Potential Future Opponent
Within the aftermath of UFC Tampa over the weekend from Amalie Area in St. Petersburg, FL, the house venue of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Alvarez, nicknamed “El Fenomino,” met with the assembled media backstage at Amalie Area. Throughout Alvarez’s press junket, he delivered his plan of assault for the brand new 12 months.
“I stated if there’s going to be a UFC Spain, that will be my final dance at 155,” Joel Alvarez started. “Pay attention, I wouldn’t have an opponent in thoughts, however for my final dance, I’d battle anyone, whoever is coming again there.”
Alvarez’s potential plans embrace an MMA legend.
“I heard he could be coming again at 155 or 170, however that will be [Donald] “Cowboy” Cerrone,” Joel Alvarez continued.
Joel Alvarez on Donald Cerrone
In that very same press convention, Alvarez spoke extremely of a attainable contest between himself and some of the profitable fighters of all-time within the UFC.
“It will be a dream,” he continued. “I heard it could be a risk [that] he comes again and needs to have a pair [of] fights. It will be a dream for me to get a photograph with him. Think about [the chance] to battle him? It will be an incredible factor if he’s coming again. I’m undecided if that’s occurring.”
Donald Cerrone (36-17, 1 NC MMA, 23-14, 1 NC UFC) initially hung up his gloves in the summertime of 2022 upon sustaining a second-round submission defeat by means of guillotine choke by the hands of the winningest fighter in UFC historical past, Jim Miller (38-18. 1 NC MMA, 27-17, 1 NC UFC) throughout UFC 276 inside T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
Just lately, “Cowboy” made his intentions identified that he would droop his retirement of almost two and a half years to hit an vital profession benchmark: The 50-bout plateau beneath Zuffa possession.
“Cowboy” Cerrone Remarks on His Comeback
Counting his appearances within the late WEC predating Zuffa shopping for the UFC in early 2001, Donald Cerrone has made the stroll to the cage 48 occasions in a Zuffa-owned group.
“I wish to return and get two extra fights [with Zuffa],” Cerrone started in an Instagram video. “After I retired, I informed you I used to be getting my hair finished and get on steroids. The quantity 50 has been sitting on my thoughts for some time.”
Cerrone talked about that he’s beginning to put together for a comeback after two years away from the cage.
“I’ve been working with Transcend for the final two years, taking TRT and a bunch of peptides,” he continued. “Now, we bought a protocol for all you those that [think] ‘Oh. what in the event you get on it, you’ll be able to by no means come off?’ Nicely, now I’ve to return off and piss clear, battle in a couple of months.”
Sizing Up a Potential Joel Alvarez vs. Donald Cerrone Struggle
If this battle involves fruition sooner or later, Alvarez is the taller man at 6-foot-3, in comparison with Cerrone’s 6-foot-1 body. As well as, Joel Alvarez owns a four-inch attain benefit (77 inches to 73 inches) over Donald Cerrone, together with a 1 1/2-inch leg attain (42 inches even to 40 1/2 inches).
Donald Cerrone fell on laborious occasions earlier than initially retiring in 2022, having ended his MMA profession with a document of 0-4 with one no-contest in his closing 5 appearances beneath the UFC promotional banner.
Again in September of 2020, throughout the top of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cerrone noticed his majority draw with Niko Worth retroactively reversed to a no-contest. Worth returned a constructive marijuana check and obtained a six-month ban from competitors.
Joel Alvarez Coming Into 2025 on a Roll
Within the different nook, Joel Alvarez enters the brand new 12 months having posted a mark of 4-1 in his final 5 fights. At present, he’s on a three-fight profitable streak.
Previous to the Drakkar Klose knockout victory this previous Saturday evening, he completed Elves Brener (16-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) throughout the Aug. 3 UFC on ABC 7 predominant card opener from Etihad Area from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates by means of third-round knockout (knee strikes adopted by floor and pound.) In so doing, Alvarez scored the $50,000 (USD) Efficiency of the Night time Award on the post-fight press convention.
Ending out the previous 12 months with a three-fight profitable streak is a serious boon for Joel Alvarez, so can he stick with it? Solely time will inform.
Remaining Ideas
The identification of Joel Alvarez’s subsequent opponent contained in the Octagon gained’t be definitively identified for some time, however a attainable pairing between him and Donald Cerrone will surely be thrilling stuff to look at on some distant Saturday evening within the new 12 months.
