Eddie Alvarez vs. Donald Cerrone: A Full Head-to-Toe Breakdown

With one of the best 155-pound resumes around, former Bellator kingpin Eddie Alvarez stands as the best divisional addition since Gilbert Melendez came over from Strikeforce.

As a fighter at heart, one who encompasses all facets of inflicting damage and absorbing it, the 30-year-old journeyman is going to cause some problems in the UFC's lightweight division.

But considering Alvarez enters the organization as such a highly touted and sought-after entity, his promotional debut opposite a red-hot Donald Cerrone could be the biggest test of his lengthy career.

The Cowboy is one tough cookie, and with some of the best kickboxing and submissions techniques on the roster the UFC could very well be setting their newly signed title contender up for failure.

Here is a conventional head-to-toe breakdown for Cerrone vs. Alvarez as you get ready for their scintillating matchup this Saturday at UFC 178.

Precision

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Cerrone and Alvarez are two different type of strikers.

While Cerrone does like to mix it up and test the waters, he's much more calculated that his opponent.

Whether it's head kicks, knees to the body or in-and-out combinations, The Cowboy channels his production through timing and precision.

Instead, Alvarez opts to get inside, drag his opponent into a brawl and see who comes out standing.

It has worked for him in the past, but against a calm and sometimes too collected fighter like Cerrone, he has to be ready for quick-snapping jabs and blistering body shots.

Once Cerrone finds his range, he's able to open up and enforce an offensive output that is sometimes tops in the division.

ADVANTAGE: CERRONE

Power

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For what it's worth, Cerrone can deliver some of the best head-kick knockouts in the promotion.

But outside of those few and far between finishes, The Cowboy's punching power just doesn't stack up against that of Alvarez.

Because not only can the former Bellator champion take a punch, he can deliver one, evident by 15 career knockouts.

Now that doesn't mean that Cerrone can't throw some good combinations together and knock Alvarez off balance, but the chances of putting him to sleep with his hands are slim to none.

As long as Alvarez can wade through Cerrone's kicks, knees and rangy fluttering he'll be able to move inside, let his lands loose and showcase his natural punching power.

ADVANTAGE: ALVAREZ

Durability

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Cerrone is most certainly on a short list of fighters that can take a beating and still come back for more (i.e. his loss to Nate Diaz).

But only a few fighters in the world, let alone UFC lightweights, can match the tenacity and overwhelming ability to fight through punishment that Alvarez brings with him every time he steps inside of the cage.

Cerrone has yet to take part in a fight that oversteps the bounds of possibility and human resilience, while Alvarez has, battling Michael Chandler for four glorious rounds back in 2011.

That's not to say that Cerrone can't take a punch or shake off a good shot from Alvarez, Alvarez is just a little more durable.

ADVANTAGE: ALVAREZ

Takedowns

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Through 14 UFC appearances, stretching 27 rounds, Cerrone has only been taken down a grand total of four times.

That's astonishing.

Now while that stems from The Cowboy's ability to pick apart his opponents before they have the chance to shoot, it also plays into his overall rate to defend the takedown, which stands at 65 percent.

While that's all well and good, Alvarez is the type of fighter that is at his best when he's chest-to-chest with his opponent.

He often utilizes his strong wrestling base to get inside, establish control and let his hands go. It's a strategy that could very well throw Cerrone off his game and test his balance round-by-round.

Alvarez is easily one of the strongest athletes in the division and with a career 56 percent takedown rate (courtesy of Fight Metrics), he should be able to get this fight to the ground if need be.

SLIGHT ADVANTAGE: ALVAREZ

Submissions

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For as good as Alvarez's hands are, he has actually finished more fights by submission (five) than knockout or TKO (three) since 2009.

It's a testament to his unpredictability and overall well-rounded pallet, which has culminated into a 10-1 record during that span.

However, Alvarez is not the same type of grappler as Cerrone is.

With one of the more underrated submission games around, the 31-year-old has sneakily secured 15 careered finishes by way of choke or armbar.

Not to mention Cerrone is able to tap into his grappling repertoire when fighting off his back, which makes it that much harder to successfully ground-and-pound him.

In any case, if Michael Chandler can do it, then Cerrone can certainly make Alvarez tap.

ADVANTAGE: CERRONE

Verdict

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Whether it's Brock Lesnar, Luke Rockhold or Clay Collard, predicting how a fighter is going to fair in their UFC debut is nearly impossible.

Time and time again we've seen debuting acquisitions exceed their potential, fall flat on their face or simply get by.

With that said, Alvarez has been widely considered the best fighter outside of the promotion for a few years now.

His storied background and piercing fight style should instantaneously make him a household name and one of the stronger title contenders in the division.

But Cerrone is simply too hot.

In a business where win streaks and finishes rule the way, The Cowboy is an exploding sun.

That's why it's easier to bet with him rather than against him.

VERDICT: CERRONE VIA SECOND-ROUND SUBMISSION

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