6 Predictions For UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw Vs. Cruz

2. Anthony Pettis Vs. Eddie Alvarez

Weight Class: Lightweight Here's a fight that might have been a dream fight for hardcore MMA fans just a few years ago. Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (18€“3) taking on former Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez (26€“4) is the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 81, but at a different time, it might have headlined. Alvarez left Bellator as their active lightweight champion after a prior legal dispute with the company was settled. Entering the UFC, he lost to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, but picked up a win in another highly anticipated fight, this time with former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, affectionately known (by Reebok and no one else) as Giblert. The jury is still out on Alvarez's UFC transition, but no one can say that he isn't fighting the best: Cerrone, Melendez, and Pettis are all top five fighters after all. What Alvarez has in heart (he's one of the grittiest, gutsiest fighters in the lightweight division), Pettis has in sheer talent. The flashy Duke Roufus-trained striker is one of the most innovative fighters in the game, and "Showtime" is practically a human highlight reel at times. Who wins when these two former champs collide? The smart money is on Pettis. When he's on his game, there are few who can top him. Alvarez has an incredible chin, however, so it's likely to be a decision.