“The more dangerous the situation I put myself into, the more I rise, the better I become.” Those words once came from UFC legend Eddie Alvarez—and looking back, he wasn’t wrong. Between 2008 and 2018, ‘The Underground King’ thrived under the spotlight of the UFC. Despite being in a losing fight against Conor McGregor, Alvarez is still regarded as one of the old-school greats. But have you ever stopped to ask how he got to such heights? How he rose? To truly understand that, we have to rewind to 2007—long before the UFC lights hit his face—when Alvarez was fighting for a peculiar little promotion called BodogFight.

At the time, he held the welterweight championship and was already turning heads. For those unfamiliar, BodogFight was a Russian MMA organization based in Moscow. Active from 2006 to 2011, the promotion was infamous for staging events in wild, exotic locales—beaches, private resorts, even luxury yachts. Eddie Alvarez was dominating. But things took a strange turn. One of Bodog’s partners was a Russian mobster, and according to numerous behind-the-scenes whispers, Eddie had a serious confrontation with him.

Now, years later, that shadowy chapter has come back into the spotlight—courtesy of UFC veteran and fellow Bodog alum Chael Sonnen. In a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, while speaking with Daniel Cormier, Sonnen revealed a long-buried story filled with shocking details. He recounted how, during a yacht party, one of the mobsters struck a woman, prompting Eddie to step in and strike the mafia boss in response. This incident led to Eddie Alvarez being taken to another location.

“They made him dig a hole,” Uncle Sonnen said. “When he finished digging the hole, he just assumed he was going to be put in it. They made him dig the hole, then said, ‘If you ever hit a made man again, you go in the hole.’ After that, they had him cover it up and then they left.”

The tale sounds like something straight out of a gangster film — chilling, surreal, and intense. Yet, in the end, the mobsters didn’t bury ‘The Underground King’. Instead, they brought him back safely and, in their words, made things “square.” Interestingly, years ago, Eddie Alvarez had already addressed those rumors and shut them down—in an interview with Chael Sonnen himself. The American was clear: the “burying” incident never took place.

Did it really happen? Maybe. Maybe not. But true or not, the tale only adds more grit and mystique to the Eddie Alvarez legend—one even rivals like Conor McGregor can’t ignore.

Conor McGregor paid tribute to Eddie Alvarez

“There’s a part of martial arts where we need humility and respect. Conor McGregor–this guy is so offensive minded,” said Eddie Alvarez, reflecting on the relentless trash talk he endured at the hands of the Irishman. The two squared off years ago at UFC 205, a historic night when ‘The Notorious’ knocked out the American fighter from Philadelphia in the second round to become the first simultaneous two-division UFC champion.

Since that iconic clash, their journeys have taken drastically different turns. Conor McGregor has largely stepped away from active competition, growing his business empire and multiplying his wealth outside the Octagon. ‘The Underground King’, on the other hand, continues to chase challenges in combat sports. Their paths unexpectedly crossed again earlier this year in a different arena—Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). McGregor now holds a stake as co-owner, while Alvarez competes under its banner. At KnuckleMania 5, ‘The Underground King’ faced former UFC rival Jeremy Stephens and suffered a punishing defeat.

Following the loss, Alvarez took to social media to share an emotional message: “Please understand how bad I wanted this and what I sacrificed in order to win. It wasn’t my night. Bare Knuckle is as real as it gets. Unpredictable, Fast Pace and violent. Congrats to all the new Up and coming Philly stand outs.”  The heartfelt post caught the attention of BKFC figurehead Conor McGregor, who showed respect for his former adversary. The Irishman responded: “Fighting Legend.” He later added: “It’s not a game. It’s a war and the war goes on.”

As for the wild tale about his stint with the Russian mob; whether Eddie Alvarez really confronted the made man, or it’s just the stuff of legend—we won’t know the full story for sure. But one thing’s certain: his story is unforgettable. What’s your take on the legacy of the former UFC lightweight champion? Share your thoughts below.