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NEW YORK -- There is a case to be made that Eddie Alvarez is the greatest lightweight in mixed martial arts history.Within the last 18 months alone, Alvarez has defeated a former Strikeforce champion (Gilbert Melendez), former WEC champion (Anthony Pettis) and current UFC champion (Rafael dos Anjos).When he left Bellator MMA two years ago, Alvarez vacated the promotions lightweight title. In 2012, he knocked out then-DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki in a nontitle fight.As far as beating champions, its arguably one of the best ever, Alvarez said, when asked to reflect on his own résumé.And yet, in the buildup to his title defense against featherweight champion Conor McGregor at UFC 205 on Saturday, Alvarez estimates half the media attention he has received has been a generic, the guy McGregor is fighting kind of interest.Half of these interviews have basically looked at me as Conors opponent, Alvarez said. The other half actually know who I am. The truth is, a large majority of the market, Id guess 80 percent, doesnt know anything more than what they are sold.And right now, theyve been sold a certain product. I havent been it. Conors been it. Hes been what theyre selling -- and a lot of people have bought it.That they have. Heading into UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden, McGregor (20-3) is the hottest-selling item in the history of mixed martial arts.McGregors last three fights, all of which took place in Las Vegas, combined to produce nearly $26 million in gate revenues. The UFC, a private company that does not release pay-per-view numbers, told ESPN.com this year that McGregors two fights against Nate Diaz rank among the top three sellers in company history.Alvarez (28-4) isnt the first to attribute a large portion of this success to the UFCs eagerness to promote McGregor, a fast-talking, hard-hitting Irish star. One criticism of McGregors record is that he benefited from preferential matchmaking on his way to the top.If he wasnt able to sell, he wouldnt have been able to pick his opponents coming up, Alvarez said. He would have fought a wrestler before now. His record wouldnt be what it is and his performances wouldnt have looked the way they did. He never would have gotten a rematch against Nate Diaz.Hes very fortunate to be a good salesman. Hes been granted a lot of favoritism the rest of us havent.UFC president Dana White, however, says the opposite has taken place during McGregors career -- that the UFC has tried, at times, to pull McGregor back from attempting too much, but he doesnt listen.Its the dumbest thing anybody could ever say, White said. Its like these guys who are still questioning him, Hes had the most perfect handpicked opponents -- its crazy. Jose Aldo is a perfectly picked opponent? Its ridiculous.This kid limped out of the Octagon after his last fight against Nate Diaz and said, I want to be on that New York card. When he said that, I said, Dude, you just came off an absolute five-round war. Im worried about the leg youre limping on. I dont think Im going to do that fight. He said, Let my leg be the last thing youre worried about.The beauty for Alvarez is that he has an opportunity to prove his theory correct in New York. That attitude has existed in Alvarez since he started training as a high school kid in Philadelphia.When Alvarez won his first championship in 2006 as a welterweight for a promotion called BoDog Fight, the UFC was marketing Matt Hughes and Georges St-Pierre as the top fighters in the world.Even then, Alvarez and his original team in Philadelphia felt the only real difference between them and St-Pierre was opportunity.I feel like, if you would have asked us back then, we would have said we were on that level, said Alvarezs former head coach Stephen Haigh. I dont think we ever felt, Oh, because theyre in the UFC, those guys have some special technique.I still kind of hold that same belief. People think that because these guys are fighting on that stage, they must be doing something magical. Its a matter of opportunity. As far as we were ever concerned, we were on that same level, even back then.Despite his accomplishments, Alvarez feels a good half of those watching UFC 205 this weekend will barely see him at first. Theyll be too caught up in McGregor video packages. All those one-liners he has uttered recently, and highlights of knockouts against opponents who werent capable of taking him down.But by the end of the night, Alvarez believes the curtain will have dropped.I think sports is a quest to find out what really is -- not what perceptions are, Alvarez said. The business aspect of this sport is a contradiction to what its really about, and thats knowing something for what it is and not just what it looks like.For this fight, Ill play this role. Well get out and reach the media, but for me, the most important part is knowing whos who and whats what. Thats gonna happen on Nov. 12.Pierre Turgeon Jersey . 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Scott Wilson Sabres Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Thomas Vanek Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants center Weston Richburg was ejected early in the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins?on Sunday for his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game.Richburg was flagged for a late block on Redskins cornerback Josh Norman as the Giants tried to reclaim the lead with 14 minutes, 18 seconds remaining. He was penalized earlier in the game for arguing a penalty. The officiating crew considered them in the same category.Richburg is the first known player to be ejected uunder the new rule that kicks a player out of the game for two unsportsmanlike penalties.dddddddddddd Richburgs ejection left the Giants without their starting center for most of the fourth quarter of a key division game against the Redskins.The Rams Aaron Donald was disqualified from a game this season, but he was given an unnecessary roughness penalty and was disqualified on the same play. ' ' '