Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Longtime rivals Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler were expected to complete their lightweight trilogy as part of the Bellator MMA pay-per-view (PPV) event back in 2014, but “The Underground King” suffered a concussion and was bounced from the card.
Alvarez would later part ways with the promotion and sign with UFC, capturing another 155-pound strap along the way before eventually landing in ONE Championship, a promotion that may also sign Chandler after “Iron” finished up his Bellator MMA contract earlier this year.
A rubber match, however, is hardly a foregone conclusion.
“No, I don’t care about him either,” Alvarez told South China Morning Post. “I don’t because again it’s another guy who doesn’t hold a world title. He wasn’t the champion of Bellator. He got knocked out by the 145 pounder [Patricio Freire], and he’s not the champion of ONE. And he wasn’t the champion of the UFC like he’s not a champion any more, so my goal is set on champions. So, the only guy that interests me or that I’d be licking my chops at right now is Christian Lee. Anyone else, they can do whatever they want.”
Lee is the current ONE Championship lightweight titleholder.
Alvarez was submitted by Chandler at Bellator 58 back in late 2011 but would get his revenge at Bellator 106 roughly two years later. It’s been something of an up-and-down road for both combatants in the years that followed, though both Alvarez and Chandler are coming off victories.
“The Underground King” (30-7, 1 NC) was last seen choking out Eduard Folayang at ONE: “Dawn of Heroes” last summer while “Iron” (21-5) whooped former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 just last month.
Who’s ready for part three?