Alvarez-Aoki rematch in the works for Bellator

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Alvarez-Aoki-Rematch-in-the-Works-for-Bellators-2012-Campaign-35000

Quote :

Eddie Alvarez may get his chance at revenge on Shinya Aoki yet.

Sherdog.com has learned that a clash between Bellator and Dream's respective lightweight champions Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki is being targeted for early 2012 in the Bellator Fighting Championships cage.

Bout agreements have been distributed, and both fighters are expected to sign shortly. Sherdog.com confirmed the news with sources close to the situation on Wednesday.

Though both men are reigning champions in opposite organizations, neither title will be up for grabs if and when they clash.

That's big.

I like it, they need someone for Eddie to fight why not give Aoki a chance to come win in our country. I hope he subs Eddie again

unless Aoki has been working on his takedowns and more importantly stand up i don't see him taking this one... but then again look what happened last time

great fight tho, Eddie needs to stay relevant

Bellator is having a harder and harder time finding relevant fights for their champions outside of Featherweight because most of the top fighters are elsewhere. How long before we see guys like Askren and the Pitbull Brothers in the UFC?

its really tough for them... but i really want to see their champs stay more active

Ludo wrote:

Bellator is having a harder and harder time finding relevant fights for their champions outside of Featherweight because most of the top fighters are elsewhere. How long before we see guys like Askren and the Pitbull Brothers in the UFC?

weird comment considering the topic.

That was kind of the point of My post, Captain. Look where they had to go to find a relevant opponent for Alvarez. They had to pull Aoki out of Japan for a superfight that isn't even a title defense. Next thing you know they'll be asking for Kawajiri in a rematch or trying to lure Joachim Hansen out of Japan for one night only type fights.

Ludo wrote:

That was kind of the point of My post, Captain. Look where they had to go to find a relevant opponent for Alvarez. They had to pull Aoki out of Japan for a superfight that isn't even a title defense. Next thing you know they'll be asking for Kawajiri in a rematch or trying to lure Joachim Hansen out of Japan for one night only type fights.

The day we are talking about Eddie facing the highest ranked opponent in his bellator career is an odd time to say how hard it is for Bellator to find quality opponents.

This is high level cross promotion. This is a good thing on it's own right, and it could be a signal for future deals as well. I don't see the negative aspect of it at all.

And yet the very fact that the highest ranked opponent of his Bellator Career isn't even signed with Bellator is what I'm talking about. The fact that they had to go looking abroad for a fight, not even a title fight mind you, but just ANY fight for Alvarez speaks to the lengths Bellator has to go to just to find this guy relevant opponents.

Bellator has the most systematic method of finding challengers for the Title of any org in the sport. Just because people don't recognize these guys doesn't mean they are not relevant. It is there policy to not bring in a superstar and give him a title fight. It is not how they do business, they instead have superfights.

Chandler(who recently beat one of the pitbulls who u appear to think is relevant) is up next for the title, cause he won the tourney. That's how Bellator works.

People(including myself) were more amped for Eddie vs Huerta, despite the fact that Curran beat Huerta, and in hindsight gave Eddie a much tougher fight.

I never said they were especially relevant yet. But the fact is they are young, they are explosive, and they are rising stars in the promotion along with Askren. I was using them as examples more than anything else. I'm not sure why your picking a fight here over this but all I was ever trying to say is it is evident that Bellator has an extremely hard time finding relevant fights for their Champions. Kole Conrad, Hector Lombard, even Zach Makovski. Is it so wrong to question how long the younger fighters in high standing in Bellator will be in Bellator without other truly relevant competition to fight against?

Ludo wrote:

I never said they were especially relevant yet. But the fact is they are young, they are explosive, and they are rising stars in the promotion along with Askren. I was using them as examples more than anything else. I'm not sure why your picking a fight here over this but all I was ever trying to say is it is evident that Bellator has an extremely hard time finding relevant fights for their Champions. Kole Conrad, Hector Lombard, even Zach Makovski. Is it so wrong to question how long the younger fighters in high standing in Bellator will be in Bellator without other truly relevant competition to fight against?

Well Makovski will either have Warren, or someone that beats Warren, put in front of him in the near future. So he has name guys lined up.

Hector needs fights, no doubt. And there are guys out there. Melvin for instance. Bjorn needs to do work there. But they do have a tourney coming up, so a title defense is in the making. And we should not overlook Shlemenko as a recent quality opponent.

Konrad, just fought his most interesting fight, and they will need to continue to do work there also.

But I've made my thoughts clear on how I think Bellator can become an org that can keep it's homegrown talent as well as bring new talent in. Get a better TV deal. Get on Spike.

But currently Bellator is doing pretty well and I don't see an impending mass exodus of the talent that they have grown.


And Im not trying to cause no beef, Im just debating a point.

Fair enough. I don't think a mass exodus takes place but I wouldn't be surprised if after the contracts for Askren or either of the Pitbulls run out, provided they are champions then that the UFC doesn't put an offer on the table. You know as well as I do the UFC is all about collecting quality fighters.

Bellator must have a champions clause.

And yeah, Im sure UFC would be interested in more then a few Bellator guys.

Shit who is to say that Bellator is not the next buyout. I actually see that as more likely then all these bellator guys jumping.

I doubt they would buy Bellator anytime soon if it isn't an immediate thing. Bellator is in talks with replacing the UFC on Spike, I don't think Zuffa wants to have any more contact than they have to with Spike after the way Spike has been acting with trying to counter program the UFC on Versus show and all that. Though I definitely think if Zuffa were interested they could make it happen. I don't think Bellator is quite big enough yet to warrant it, though.

The major difference here is Aoki won't be allowed to chase EA in a buttscoot for an extended period of time.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

The major difference here is Aoki won't be allowed to chase EA in a buttscoot for an extended period of time.

when the buttscoot is quickly followed by a submission, Im aight with the buttscoot. And it played no role in the fight.

god damn he's so slick on the ground... he NEEDS to develope a takedown and some stand up

captain organic wrote:

KingsOwn19 wrote:

The major difference here is Aoki won't be allowed to chase EA in a buttscoot for an extended period of time.

when the buttscoot is quickly followed by a submission, Im aight with the buttscoot. And it played no role in the fight.

I guess it didnt...i thought i remembered Aoki butscooting around and eventually Alvarez commited and got caught in the hook.

It had been a couple years since i watched the fight.

Great fight for Bellator, and good to see Eddie actually getting a top 10 LW for the first time in a while. Bellator better watch out for the eye of mordor that is the UFC, but with the UFC possibly getting investigated for antitrust violations, doubt we see them buying up anymore Orgs, more likely active counter programing.


Loser of this fight gets dropped from my LW top 10, too many talented LWs are doing more to keep these guys hanging around.


Oh I got Eddie this time around. Watch Chandler play spoiler.

Glad to see this under the Bellator banner. This time the term "super fight" will actually fit. A win here and maybe Aoki can give American MMA another shot? Would be sweet if somehow it's on SPIKE.

LA wrote:

Great fight for Bellator, and good to see Eddie actually getting a top 10 LW for the first time in a while. Bellator better watch out for the eye of mordor that is the UFC, but with the UFC possibly getting investigated for antitrust violations, doubt we see them buying up anymore Orgs, more likely active counter programing.


Loser of this fight gets dropped from my LW top 10, too many talented LWs are doing more to keep these guys hanging around.


Oh I got Eddie this time around. Watch Chandler play spoiler.

Yeah, Aoki is for sure out of my top 10 if he loses this fight. Eddie possibly, depends on how things go