Eddie Alvarez: McGregor Could Be UFC's Public Enemy No. 1

Eddie Alvarez believes Conor McGregor risks becoming the UFC's "public enemy No. 1" as he tries to fight out the final bout on his contract.

McGregor's UFC deal is down to its last fight after his loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July, a bout that ended when McGregor tore his ACL and had to fold in the middle of the Octagon. The injury required surgery and has left McGregor's timeline, and his leverage, in limbo.

Alvarez, who held the UFC lightweight title before losing it to McGregor in 2016, says he has lived through exactly this kind of standoff. He left Bellator for the UFC in 2014 only after Bellator sued to keep him, and he argues the UFC will not simply let its biggest name walk once that final fight comes due.

Why Alvarez Thinks McGregor Is In Trouble

Alvarez's read is that a promoter does not release a departing star without a fight, literally or figuratively. He said the UFC's goal in this spot is to "get you beat in such a way that you have no value outside this company," and predicted McGregor will balk at whatever opponent the promotion puts in front of him for that last bout. Alvarez knows the other side of that coin too. His own UFC run ended in 2018 with a second-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier, seven months after he had finished Justin Gaethje, before he moved on to ONE Championship and then BKFC.

What This Means For McGregor's Next Fight

McGregor already has a landing spot in mind if the UFC does eventually cut him loose. He holds a stake in BKFC, and Alvarez's comments frame the coming negotiation as a tug of war between what the UFC wants to book and what McGregor is willing to accept before he can chase that opportunity. Nothing about an opponent or date for that final fight has been set, and McGregor's recovery from ACL surgery means any resolution is still a ways off regardless of how the contract fight shakes out.

For bettors, this is a story to file away rather than act on. There is no fight booked, so there is no line to read, but the dynamic Alvarez describes, a promotion wanting a favorable stylistic matchup for its exiting star's finale, is worth remembering once a name and date actually surface. Markets around a McGregor return have swung wildly before based on hype alone, and any confirmed opponent will move those numbers fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Eddie Alvarez say about Conor McGregor and the UFC?

Eddie Alvarez said Conor McGregor could become the UFC's "public enemy No. 1" if he tries to fight out the final bout on his contract, arguing the promotion will not release him easily.

Why is Conor McGregor's UFC contract in question?

Conor McGregor is down to the last fight on his UFC deal after losing to Max Holloway and tearing his ACL in that bout, leaving his next move and timeline uncertain.

Could Conor McGregor fight for BKFC after leaving the UFC?

Conor McGregor holds a stake in BKFC, and it has been floated as a landing spot for him once his UFC contract obligations are complete.