It never felt quite right, seeing Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez II take a backseat to a pair of faded, beaten down names. So in a way, it’s strange to see how fittingly how Bellator 106 played out. Ortiz-Rampage fell apart amid a cascade of giggles, because of course it did, and ultimately we got the ending that should’ve been there all along.
Chandler and Alvarez stepped in on Saturday night and wasted no time delivering another white-knuckle ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate on the biggest stage in Bellator history. After a nightmare year, spent more in the courts than the cage, Alvarez got his revenge (in more ways than one). Now with the scored tied at one apiece, a massive trilogy fight is a mouthwateringly foregone conclusion. To say the fight world loved it, well, that’d be an understatement.
Fuckkkkkk yeahhhhhhhh eddieeeeeeee hahahaha I’m so ducking happy @Ealvarezfight congrats my man!!!! 👑
— TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) November 3, 2013
Great Fight !!!
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013
I thought Chandler got it but I’ll happily take rounds 11-15. Yes please. All day. Every day. #Bellator
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013
@Ealvarezfight u the man kid welcome back to the TOP!!!!!!!!
— kurt pellegrino (@kurtpellegrino) November 3, 2013
Words cannot describe how inspired I am by Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. These two are a different breed. #BellatorMMA
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) November 3, 2013
That was amazing 🙂
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 3, 2013
I’m hearing Djork oops Bjork got served a big fat plate of Karma tonight 🙂 Congrats Eddie!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) November 3, 2013
I don’t know if I agree with that decision. I’m gonna rewatch tho. Sick ass fight but I felt like @MikeChandlerMMA pulled it off
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 3, 2013
WOW that lived up to the hype…. Best rematch I’ve ever seen @EdAlvarezFight and @MikeChandlerMMA
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) November 3, 2013
I’m happy for @Ealvarezfight for overcoming everything. but I think despite the cut @MikeChandlerMMA won that fight
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 3, 2013
Really believe Chandler coulda saved his face damage had he had his hands up. Keeping your hands in position is like a good wrestling stance
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013
Celebration is on deck for this huge win @blackzilians and @Ealvarezfight that’s how we do it!!!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) November 3, 2013
Alvarez/ Chandler is the reason I love MMA so much.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 3, 2013
That was a AWESOME FIGHT BELLATOR ROCKS
— Eric Prindle (@EricPrindleMMA) November 3, 2013
Awesome job @Ealvarezfight. Unbelievable heart. Champion. Redemption.
— Charlie Brenneman (@SpaniardMMA) November 3, 2013
Incredible fight! Nice job boys! @BellatorMMA @SpikeTV
— Rick Hawn (@RickHawnMMA) November 3, 2013
The lightweight @blackzilians didn’t cheat u bro @Ealvarezfight ! U had a great camp & u deserve it, Congratulations I’m very happy for u!!!
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) November 3, 2013
Alvarez and Chandler are both winners!!! What a fight congrats to both warriors!!!!
— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) November 3, 2013
Awesome fight, but thought it was the wrong call. If it was boxing I would maybe c Split, but really feel @MikeChandlerMMA won it 48-47
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 3, 2013
That fight was amazing but #Chandler won that fight. That was shit judging.
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) November 3, 2013
Yesssssss!!! Alvarez wins! Fuck @EricDelFierro and Alliance! (Except my friends there…haha)
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) November 3, 2013
The crowd gets a great classic after a lame card, and they boo the winner. Modern MMA nouchebag ‘fans’ can suck it. #BellatorMMA
— Paul Lazenby (@MaulerMMA) November 3, 2013
Wow @MikeChandlerMMA & @EdAlvarezFight !!! YOU GUYS are complete animals! Amazing fight!
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) November 3, 2013
As an athlete how do you mentally Prepare for another fight like that? Crazy. #Bellator
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013
The new lightweight champ for @BellatorMMA @EdAlvarezFight. That fight was absolutely insane. #MMA at its best. Congratulations!
— Phillipe Nover (@PhillipeNover) November 3, 2013
Hey #Bellator I would’ve paid for this fight and the #StraussCurran fight but definitely not for #TitoRampage or #RampageBeltran FYI.
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) November 3, 2013
That was an epic fight between @Ealvarezfight and @MikeChandlerMMA . Can’t wait to see the 3rd installment and then fight the winner.
— Dave Jansen (@DaveJansen155) November 3, 2013
Ouch that mother fuckers tough , but we got it done Baby! pic.twitter.com/FcKaXKaJgS
— Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) November 3, 2013
NEWTON DOES IT AGAIN
Congrats on your title @Emanuel_Newton! Coach Donnie is excited for you.
— Raphael Davis (@RaphaelDavis205) November 3, 2013
Hard to watch two friends compete. @Emanuel_Newton @KingMoFH . Happy nobody is injured
— Brett Cooper (@BrettCoopermma) November 3, 2013
I don’t know? Newton let off the gas in 4th n 5th. Think mo got rounds 1 n5 and newton got 2,3 and 4
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 3, 2013
Congrats @Emanuel_Newton and great fight @KingMoFH both good dudes and long futures!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 3, 2013
Idk why but the commentators aren’t addressing how many body kicks @Emanuel_Newton has landed and the effects they’re having.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 3, 2013
I wonder how much spinning shit Roy Nelson threw at King Mo to get ready for this fight – @CamYallits #stuffcamsays
— Mitch Clarke (@MitchClarkeMMA) November 3, 2013
STRAUS WINS ONE THE HARD WAY
All the way illegal. #Bellator
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013
God dammit!!! #Bellator @DanielStraus is tough as hell. Get back in there man and get that shit back!
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) November 3, 2013
And the NEW!!!!!!!!!! #pigtailmafia
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) November 3, 2013
Hells yeah, @DanielStraus is your new champion!!! My nigga!! @AmericanTopTeam
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) November 3, 2013
The NEW Bellator champion! @DanielStraus !!!
— Matthew brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 3, 2013
Strauss won even with out the illegal knee
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) November 3, 2013
Congrats to my man @DanielStraus for the big win tonight and taking the belt as his own #tothewinnergoesthespoils
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 3, 2013
The new champ @DanielStraus !!!! Congrats brother you earned it!
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) November 3, 2013
Very happy for winning the Daniel Straus and the victory of my friend Cristiano Souza. Great night for ATT
— Gleison Tibau (@TibauATT) November 3, 2013
Tough night, but great work @PatCurranMMA. Keep your head up, you’ll be champ again. @BellatorMMA
— Brent Weedman (@brent_weedman) November 3, 2013
Congrats to the new Champion @DanielStraus! Great job brotha! @AmericanTopTeam #Represent
— Thiago Alves. (@ThiagoAlvesATT) November 3, 2013
Curran obviously disappointed seemed to lose focus after he landed that illegal knee.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 3, 2013
WOW Straus definitely made me eat my words. Totally underestimated him! #bellator106
— Nick Barnes (@Nick_Phoenix170) November 3, 2013
Domination @DanielStraus !!!!
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) November 3, 2013
Great performance by Strauss, Curran will be back for sure. He is the real deal.
— Brett Cooper (@BrettCoopermma) November 3, 2013
I want to congratulate my teammate @DanielStraus for his victory and now new Bellator Champion!@AmericanTopTeam !!! pic.twitter.com/H2x8kSM2Dt
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) November 3, 2013
Congratulations brothers @AmericanTopTeam @DanielStraus @LiborioATT
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) November 3, 2013
And the new world champion is @DanielStraus!!! Awesome performance bro.
— Karl Amoussou (@KarlAmoussou) November 3, 2013
YOUR INAGRUIAL FIGHT MASTER CHAMPION
Huge congrats to my big brotha @DIESELRIGGSMMA on a dominant performance tonight…a true inspiration to me as a family man n fighter…
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) November 3, 2013
And the very first #FightMaster Joe Riggs! http://t.co/dJhDVeJk6d
— Nick Barnes (@Nick_Phoenix170) November 3, 2013
I the #FightMaster
— Greg Jackson (@GJfightmaster) November 3, 2013
Just turned the tv on and guess what I see? Yes, Junie Browining is fighting right now on Bellator.
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) November 3, 2013
Great job to my bro/teammate/cornerman @DIESELRIGGSMMA did a great job tonight Winning the show everyone u best keep ur eye open he’s coming
— Efrain Escudero (@effyescudero) November 3, 2013
Best post fight speech ever belongs to @DIESELRIGGSMMA
— Mitch Clarke (@MitchClarkeMMA) November 3, 2013
OHHH you’re supposed to edit the “fuck” not the word AFTER
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 3, 2013
No wonder why nobody watched the.reality show. @DIESELRIGGSMMA is a boring motherfucker zzzzzzzz wake me yo when Mo is fighting
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013
Bellators “bleep” guy is fired. #Bellator
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013
@DIESELRIGGSMMA face looks like a catchers mitt. Lmao @JoeWarrenMMA
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013
@DIESELRIGGSMMA I’m ready when you are …….. @BjornRebney @BellatorMMA put ur money where your mouth is. Well see who need to retire
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013
Every time I see the reebok commercial with Rampage I think “Rampage hasn’t gone for a run like that in years.”
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 3, 2013