TAMPA, Fla. – Joel Alvarez thinks the odds are that a move to welterweight is next.
At UFC on ESPN 63 at Amalie Arena, Alvarez (22-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) knocked out veteran fighter Drakkar Klose early in their bout and immediately indicated his days at lightweight could be over due to the difficulty of the weight cut.
There are circumstances that would keep Alvarez from making this move, such as a home country fight. But in most scenarios, Alvarez said his next fight would be at welterweight.
Regardless of class, Alvarez hopes his return can come against UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone (36-17 MMA, 23-14 UFC), who recently announced his un-retirement and has bounced between the two weight classes.
“I said if there’s going to be UFC Spain, that would be my last dance at 155,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “… Listen, I wouldn’t have an opponent in mind. But for my last dance, I’d fight somebody, whoever is coming back there. I heard he might be coming back at 155 or 170, but that would be ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
“To me, it would be a dream. I heard it might be a possibility he comes back and wants to have a couple fights. It would be a dream for me to get a photo with him. Imagine to fight him? It would be an amazing thing if he’s coming back. I’m not sure if that’s happening.”
Cerrone, 41, retired after a July 2022 loss to Jim Miller at UFC 276. The loss moved him to 0-6 with one no contest in his most recent seven outings.
Alvarez, 31, has won three fights in a row. His only two UFC losses have come against Arman Tsarukyan and Damir Ismagulov.
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