(This story first appeared in Tuesday’s USA TODAY .) For a long time, Eddie Alvarez will admit, he was lying to himself. As he toured the rings and cages of the world, from Russia to Japan, winning MMA titles and earning accolades outside the UFC, he told himself that the logo on the canvas didn’t matter, that it made no difference whether he was winning fights in sold-out arenas or half-empty theaters, just as long as he was winning. “But the truth is, it’s really important for everyone to watch,” Alvarez (25-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) tells USA TODAY Sports. “You could have the most spectacular fight in the world, but if no one shows up and no one sees it, what does it matter?” So when Alvarez heard he was being released from his contract with Bellator MMA, where he was the lightweight champion, his first reaction was a mix of joy and relief. At last, he’d be free to sign with the UFC. He’d finally get a chance to test himself against the best, Alvarez thought, and on the biggest stage in the sport.
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