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#2. The tension between Alvarez and Lee is already there
Alvarez vs. Lee is a potential banger and this is the fight game. You need to be able to sell the fight to the public. Otherwise, it's just an athlete from the red corner squaring off with an athlete from the blue corner. Any great fight promoter understands the need for spectacle and storytelling. Eddie Alvarez vs. Christian Lee has the requisite tension that precedes so many great fights.
Since day one, the pair have been asked about fighting each other. There is a great narrative surrounding 'the passing of the torch.' They're two fighters from two different generations. The longer time went on without the match being made, the more tension began to grow. When Lee was champion, he said that Alvarez needed to do more to 'earn' a shot. Alvarez disputed that. As far as 'The Underground King' is concerned, he beat Iapicus and Ok.
Alvarez is no stranger to talking trash. The lead-up to the infamous Conor McGregor fight delivered multiple viral moments. Having endured fight week with 'The Notorious', Alvarez can truly mix it up with the best of them. Meanwhile, Christian Lee has repeatedly stated that he's not a fan of talking trash. It's just not his style. However, he's clearly not afraid to hold his own when provoked. He also took to the mic in the wake of his loss to Ok and described the decision as 'bullsh**.' This is somewhat out of character for 'The Warrior'.
Now that Christian Lee has lost his belt - and somewhat unjustly - he may be more than a little riled up. In Alvarez, you have a man who also feels like he was cheated. An opportunity to unleash their frustrations on one another inside the ONE circle to prove who's the better martial artist could be just the antidote.
#1. Legacy
Pride, money, legacy - there are plenty of reasons for fighters to do what they do. Alvarez has already reached the pinnacle of the sport in the US. He conquered the lightweight division in Bellator. He conquered the lightweight division in the UFC. When he moved to ONE, he made his intentions absolutely clear. It was all about the belt. The fastest way to the strap is to make this Christian Lee fight happen.
From Christian Lee's point of view, he may feel he is within his rights to sit out and wait for Ok Rae Yoon to be cleared for a rematch. But that's not necessarily his style. Since making his pro debut as a teenager, Christian Lee has fought an average of four times a year. That's prolific. The man likes to stay active. Is he really going to wait around for 6 months?
Sportskeeda recently interviewed Demetrious Johnson, who had an interesting perspective on the topic.
"Just fight him. I think if he has Eddie's name on his resume, as in, (if) he beat him and knocked him out? I think there's always going to be people out there who'll say - 'he never fought American talent. He never fought in the UFC blah blah blah.' Does that bother him? I don't know. But if it does, then you can go and knock out one of the best lightweights in the world."
Check out Demetrious Johnson's interview with Sportskeeda below:
