Dana White: Eddie Alvarez lost a couple of his best years after what was done to him in Bellator

Before Eddie Alvarez makes his Octagon debut against Donald Cerrone in the co-main event of UFC 178 on Sept. 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the former Bellator lightweight champion made his first appearance on the official Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rankings.

Alvarez came in at No. 14, which isn't bad, considering he's yet to compete inside the eight-walled cage.

According to UFC President Dana White's comments to The Download, that is a very low ranking for the former champ, and it could've been higher, had it not been for wasting a few of his best years duking it out with his former employer.

Check it out:

"Holy shit. I didn't know that (Alvarez came in at No. 14). I think it seems a little low, but you know what? It's been a bad run for Eddie Alvarez. In my opinion, he's lost a couple of the best years of his career because of what was done to him over there. We're weeks away from finding out where he sits."

If he wants to improve his spot on the lightweight totem pole, he'll have his work cut out for him when he steps in to take on a red-hot Cerrone -- owner of four straight stoppage victories -- in "Sin City."

And despite being a former champion who has won 10 of his last 11 bouts, White says Alvarez is the underdog in the fight.

"I love Cowboy Cerrone. He's one of my favorite fighters. Eddie Alvarez has been waiting for this opportunity for years now, and he's finally here. I think it's going to be a very good fight. I would make Eddie the underdog because he's had a tough run and he's going in against Cerrone who is on an absolute roll right now. Cerrone seems mentally, emotionally and physical all there -- it's going to be a great fight. It's going to answer a lot of questions."

Alvarez, 30, failed to get out of his contract with the Viacom-owned company in 2013, which led to him sitting on the sidelines for over a year to take on the promotion inside the court room.

After successfully defeating Michael Chandler at Bellator 106 in November of 2013 to reclaim his 155-pound title, Eddie -- yet again -- sat on the sidelines for another year to see if his chance to compete inside the Octagon would come or whether he'd have to tango one more time in Bellator.

It took longer than he would've hoped, but after Scott Coker took over for Bjorn Rebney, Alvarez was released from his contract last month and signed with UFC shortly thereafter.

Now, the mixed martial arts (MMA) community waits on pins and needles to see of he can live up to expectations inside the Octagon.