 After deciding to leave Bodog, Alvarez quickly found a new home in EliteXC where he competed in their 160-pound division against Ross Ebanez, winning by TKO.A few weeks prior to the first event, it was announced that the upstart Japanese promotion DREAM, started by the minds behind PRIDE FC and K-1 had signed Alvarez to compete in their 154-pound grand prix.His initial fight was against Andre Amade, another potent striker, hailing from the notorious Chute Boxe Academy.