Eddie Alvarez Thinks Conor McGregor Taking ‘Convenient’ Escape Route From Frankie Edgar

Twenty-four hours before Conor McGregor knocked out longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194 on Dec. 12, top 145-pound contender Frankie Edgar was promised that he’d get a crack at the UFC 194 winner by UFC president Dana White.

But in the fight game, there are no guarantees. Promotional plans can change on a moment’s notice.

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During the UFC 194 post-fight press conference, McGregor stated that he wanted to move up to the lightweight division to pursue the goal of holding two UFC divisional belts at the same time. At that moment, the promise made to Edgar vanished.

Fourth-ranked featherweight Eddie Alvarez thinks McGregor’s sudden change of weight class immediately following winning the title has more to do with McGregor not wanting to face top contender Edgar than it does his desire to hold two titles.

“I do think it’s convenient that there’s one guy left, the elephant in the room, Frankie Edgar, and he decides that he wants to do something different besides stay in that weight class,” said Alvarez during a recent media conference call.

“Right now, it seems like Conor is able t make his own decisions,” he said. “I can either cry and whine about it, or deal with what’s in front of me.”

Alvarez faces former lightweight champion and top ranked 155-pound contender Anthony Pettis on Jan. 17 at the TD Garden in Boston.

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