Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has added a win in bareknuckle boxing to his lengthy combat sports resume.
In the co-main event of BKFC 41, Alvarez faced former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes at 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo. The bout was contested at 165 pounds, and proved to be an intense bout that came down to the wire. When it was all said and done, Alvarez was declared the winner by split decision, earning two 47-46 scores, while one judge saw the fight for Mendes with the same score.
Both men darted in and out with quick punches to begin the fight. Mendes charged ahead with a left jab, and put a powerful right hand behind it. Alvarez waved his opponent in before putting punches of his own together. Mendes responded with a nice shot of his own. As the round came to an end, blood began to flow from a cut under Mendes’ right eye.
Early in the second, Mendes landed a hard left hook that sent Alvarez to the canvas. Alvarez quickly returned to his feet to face the mandatory 8 count by the referee. Mendes continued to win exchanges for the remainder of the round.
Down goes Eddie Alvarez in the second!#BKFC41 | LIVE on #FITE pic.twitter.com/FC7I20zDSK
— FITE (@FiteTV) April 30, 2023
In the opening exchange of the third, Alvarez cracked Mendes with a punch, sending him to the mat. Mendes quickly popped up and appealed to the referee that he slipped, but it was ruled a knockdown. A few intense exchanges followed, but the story of this round was Alvarez evening the knockdown count.
Eddie Alvarez knocks Chad down! We are tied at 1 knockdown each! #BKFC41 is LIVE on #FITE pic.twitter.com/EF10sWvYZt
— FITE (@FiteTV) April 30, 2023
Alvarez returned to his stool bloodied after a close fourth round. However, things got wild in the final frame.
Moving forward for the entire round, Alvarez swarmed Mendes with punches. Alvarez caught Mendes with a right uppercut followed by a left, causing Mendes to drop to the canvas. Mendes got up, and with just seconds left on the clock, Alvarez looked to finish the fight before the final bell. However, Mendes clipped Alvarez, knocking him off balance, creating a crazy scene in the final moments.
The fight would go to the scorecards, where two of the three ringside judges believed Alvarez did enough to win.
After the fight, Mendes announced his retirement from combat sports. The bout against Alvarez was his second in bareknuckle, following his debut victory over Joshuah Alvarez last February.
