Pettis vs. Alvarez

This is the official discussion thread for Pettis vs. Alvarez. Let's see what you've got.

This is a stylistic nightmare of a match-up for Eddie Alvarez. I will be completely shocked if he manages to win, because there is absolutely nothing in his game that suggests that anything else would happen.

I think this is a lot closer fight than people are making it out to be. If Alvarez stands at range and tries to kickbox with Pettis sure he's going to get slept. But if he puts pressure on Pettis, works for the takedown, pushes him up against the cage, and doesn't give room for Pettis to come forward with strikes I think he can take it. Especially in a 3 round fight. 

Agreed. Eddie is a very live dog here.

I think Eddie Alvarez's greatest assets as a boxer are his abilities to maintain distance and his head movement. These two strengths go straight out the window when he's forced to go against someone who can kick, and Anthony Pettis might just be the greatest kicker the UFC has seen.

The one skill of his that might prove to be useful against Pettis is his aggression, but I don't think he possesses the necessary ringcraft needed to best his opponent. I think this is a bad match-up of skills but Alvarez should find a way to make this fight entertaining, at least.

EDIT: I have been wrong before though.

* Edited at 01.17.2016, 10:16 PM ET *

Looks like I'm wrong again. I didn't even bother thinking about Alvarez's wrestling (and cage-grabbing apparently), which I didn't think would pose any problems for Pettis.

It would have been a majority draw with a point deduction actually.