UFC 145 – Shinya Aoki vs Eddie Alvarez – The Rematch

Eddie Alvarez, perhaps for the first time in his career, appears to be in a tenuous position.  The 28-year-old Philadelphian, a nine-year mixed martial arts veteran, is ranked outside the top 10 of the lightweight division for the first time in three years. He’s coming off a title-ceding, physically taxing loss, just his third in 25 fights. And tonight’s bout against Shinya Aoki, the man responsible for Alvarez’s second defeat in 2008, is one of two remaining on his contract with Bellator.

Eddie Alvarez, admits he wasn’t completely respectful of Shinya Aoki’s strengths when the two met in 2008.  Regression, however, is a distinct possibility if he doesn’t do to Aoki (30-5, 1 NC) what he could not when the Japanese lightweight finished a heel hook submission in 92 seconds.

“I really didn’t respect leg locks in 2008,” Alvarez said. “I didn’t see them used much in MMA. I didn’t see many people finished with them in MMA. So I didn’t respect them enough to train properly for them. I went about my normal training and neglected that strength of his and I paid for it. It’s different this time around. I respect his strengths and I made sure I had the ability to avoid them and defend them, and use what I’m good at.”

Shinya Aoki comes into Friday’s bout at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio, ranked sixth by ESPN.com at 155 pounds. He called the 2008 result “lucky.” “This fight will test both of our skills,” said the 28-year-old submission specialist Aoki.  “That’s how the fight will be.”…

via Alvarez up against a wall against Aoki – Mixed Martial Arts Blog – ESPN.