Eddie Alvarez lived up to his reputation as one of the sport’s most game fighters with his valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort against Dustin Poirier last weekend.

For those of us who have have been knee-deep in the sport for years, we could’ve told you exactly how well Alvarez epitomizes the term ‘fighter’ long before he ever joined the UFC.

Plying his trade all across the globe, fighting the very best of the best and winning title after title, Eddie has experienced more in the world of mixed martial arts than many could ever dream of.

So when he did find himself fighting under the UFC’s banner with similar success, none of us were overly surprised.

After winning a title in the promotion and engaging in some of the most memorable wars of the modern era, his last outing – against rival Dustin Poirier – saw him come out on the receiving end of a brutal second-round TKO.

And while the fight wasn’t without its fair-share of controversy, in a statement posted to the Underground King’s official Instagram, he explained why he isn’t going to let this latest setback get him down.

View this post on Instagram

There are no grey areas in Fighting , one man will lose and the other will win , this is why I love this game . Controversial calls , judging , and fan support can always add to the drama but in the end 1 will stand and 1 will fall . Hats off to Dustin and his team he stayed calm under pressure and fought beautifully this makes us 1-1 . In no way will I judge Godard harshly , We have the same Job ! he has to make decisions in split seconds just like I do , and he makes them with my health and my opponents in mind . What’s done is done . As for Mark Henry calling for an elbow in the heat of the moment . An angled elbow is an incredible shot from the position I was in , it’s actually the only shot you can throw . We simply had a miscommunication, it happens in war more often than not , this was a case of “friendly fire” and we ended up on the losing end of this battle . But let’s remember Ricardo and Mark are also responsible for my UFC world title , and wins over some of the greatest fighters in the UFC , He’s the hardest worker on our team , obsessive, detailed , and pushes us all to understand the opportunity we have in front of is on a world stage . He’s my coach , friend , and Been a mentor of mine for longer than most of you know . Losing is never satisfying , I don’t lose often but when I do I grow the most as a person/fighter . Adjustments will be made , if anything this loss will add to the joy of my next Victory ! I want to thank my team , coaches , my family , and everyone who supports me in this journey . My family especially, the sacrifice falls on the back of my wife and our children . We experience great Joy in our victories and incredible Pain in our losses but our only other option is to avoid the experience and feel nothing at all . We are grateful to be able to fight every time the walk is made to the octagon , and anxiously awaiting the the opportunity to make that walk again . Thank you @ufc . I was brought here , not to win , but to entertain…. Are you not entertained ???? T.H.N.Q

A post shared by Eddie Alvarez (@ealvarezfight) on Aug 1, 2018 at 11:07am PDT

Cillian Cunningham, Pundit Arena

Read More About: Dustin Poirier, Eddie Alvarez, lightweight, mma, UFC

Author: Cillian Cunningham

Lead mixed martial arts writer who can be contacted at [email protected] View all posts by Cillian Cunningham