Eddie Alvarez: ‘I’m not fighting until I get a new deal’

Eddie Alvarez is standing pat.

On Monday, ESPN.com reported that the UFC was interested in booking Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier 2 in Calgary on July 28, however, Alvarez told MMAFighting.com on Wednesday he’s far from accepting any fight.

“It’s not f*cking happening,” he said. “I’m not fighting until I get a new deal.”

Alvarez currently has one fight left on his contract. On last week’s episode of “The MMA Hour,” he said that he was offered a new deal recently but felt it was inadequate and negotiations never took off after that.

“The only thing we spoke of was re-signing and we haven’t come to that agreement yet,” Alvarez said last week. “So I’m guessing there’s not going to be an opponent or a bout agreement in the mail unless I’m ready to re-sign. So when we come to agreement to re-sign, then I’m sure there will be a bout agreement in the mail.”

It is true that the UFC is interested in booking Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 this summer, sources say, but that offer according to Alvarez is moot without a new deal. Poirier is willing to take the fight on that date, per sources.

Alvarez and Poirier fought to a no contest last May in what was a thrilling fight before referee Herb Dean ruled Alvarez landed illegal knees in the second round.

As for a potential showdown with Nate Diaz, who Alvarez has long expressed interest in fighting, Alvarez said he has not been offered a fight against Diaz and, despite their history, wouldn’t accept one without a new deal, either.

MMAFighting.com reported on Tuesday that the UFC and Diaz are engaged in talks for him to return on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, though, an opponent hasn’t been finalized at this time.

“I want to sit down with the UFC and just come to an agreement,” Alvarez said last week. “I feel like the best guys are (in the UFC). I still have a couple guys in the division that I want to take out and have on my resume so I definitely have some unfinished business here.”

As for the Calgary card, the UFC was interested in booking Nicco Montano vs. Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title in the main event slot, according to sources. Shevchenko even revealed on social media this week that she already signed her bout agreement, though, those plans have stalled after Montano had her tonsils and adenoids removed last week. Once that happened, UFC began looking for alternative headliners, with Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 being a top choice.

“UFC needs to stop playing games,” Alvarez added on Wednesday. “They know what I mean.”