Alvarez: I fought a 'stupid' fight against McGregor

Eddie Alvarez has admitted he abandoned his approach and fought a “stupid fight” in losing his UFC lightweight title to Conor McGregor at UFC 205.

Alvarez suffered a TKO in the second round of their clash at Madison Square Garden in the early hours of Sunday morning and was comprehensively outclassed by the SBG fighter on a night where McGregor made history in becoming the first man to hold belts at two different weight classes in the franchise.

Alvarez found McGregor’s stand-up game unstoppable on Sunday morning, as he was downed three times in the opening round, before succumbing to more of the same to see the fight stopped with a fourth knock down, followed by ground and pound, inside the second.

Philadelphia fighter Alvarez also failed to highlight why he failed to use his known skills as a wrestler against McGregor, instead getting drawn into a fist fight with a man renowned for his boxing skills.

"The first time I was dropped, I remember being on my butt and thinking, that was quick," Alvarez said in quotes reported by The Mirror. "His speed and timing were very good.

"I'm not quite sure (why he didn't utilize his wrestling skill-set), and it was foolish. That was not my intention going into the fight. It was stupid, it was foolish and I paid for not sticking to the game plan.

"I fought a stupid fight, it wasn't a good fight.

"I've never defined myself by a win and I'll never define myself by a loss. You put your suit on and you face the music.

"[McGregor] has done a phenomenal job and he continues to do a good job for the sport.

"I just want to see my wife and kids."

The defeat takes Alvarez's record to 28-5-0 as he now seeks to regroup amidst an attempt to rebuild and in the process regain the opportunity to fight for the belt he has just lost.