UFC on ESPN 63: Joel Alvarez plans to move up to welterweight following Tampa event

TAMPA, Fla. – It looks like Joel Alvarez's days as a lightweight will soon come to an end.

Although competing in a 155-pound bout at Saturday's UFC on ESPN 63, "El Fenomeno" doesn't see himself doing more future cuts to his long-time division. Alvarez (21-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who takes on Drakkar Klose (15-2-1 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on the preliminary card, has come to that realization in the lead-up to his return on Saturday.

"I spoke about it with my team on the way here, the truth is that it's a reality," Alvarez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. "I believe that's a reality now. I'm going to do the fight on Saturday, and I think at most do another at 155, then after, due to everything that implies to get down, I'm going to move up to 170 to compete."

Alvarez has competed eight times under the UFC banner and has missed weight on two occasions. Although he's made weight for his last three bouts, and he seemed to have his cuts dialed in, the Spanish fighter would like to be more active, which is something he just can't do fighting at 155 pounds.

"The cuts are very hard, they're hard," Alvarez explained. "I'm a guy that's 1.90 m (6'2), I'm very tall, so the cut is very tough. In the end, you have to get fights that are 10 weeks out.

"For example, a fight with a six-week training camp, I wouldn't be able to accept it because I wouldn't have enough time to cut. I naturally walk around 85-88 kg, that's 185, 190 pounds, so it's a big cut. I think it is better for me to move to 170, and I'd probably end weighing more, but I'd be stronger, and it would definitely be more natural."

Apart from wanting to fight more frequently, there's also a health aspect involved. Alvarez knows these weight cuts can't be good for his long-term health, and that's also something that's played a role in his decision-making.

"You take the body to the extreme," Alvarez said. "You cut 15 kilos in just 10 or nine weeks, and that's a ton of weight, especially for a person that's already in shape. I'm not losing weight because I have weight issues, and I'm obese. I'm already in shape, and yet I still do the cut. So from a health aspect, this is not good. These last few weeks are tough, and especially the last day when you have to dehydrate your body. You start seeing everything different, you even wonder if this is all worth it."

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC on ESPN 63: Joel Alvarez plans to move up to welterweight following Tampa event