Bellator lightweight Eddie Alvarez isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Discussing his future Wednesday on The MMA Hour broadcast with alpha journalist Ariel Helwani, the former champion indicated that it would be at least three months before he can even listen to offers from the UFC or other promotions. Alvarez hinted that Bellator’s impending move to Spike TV may have sweetened the promotion’s appeal.
“I want to sit down with the people at Viacom,” Alvarez said. “I’m very interested in what’s going on with this fight deal next year. Bellator has a lot of huge things going on. From there, I guess we field offers from everyone else. The UFC and everyone else.”
Alvarez (24-3), who won the last fight on his existing Bellator contract with a head-kick knockout of Patricky Freire on October 12, said he and his management team were in the midst of a three-month exclusive negotiation period with Bellator. After that period, Alvarez said he could accept other overtures.
“I’m not impatient. I’m taking my time with this,” Alvarez said. “I’m really going to let my management team and [Bellator Chairman/CEO] Bjorn [Rebney] and Bellator handle this. It’s really in their hands.”
If Alvarez was simply engaging in negotiation gamesmanship, he wasn’t tipping his hand. He added that Bellator will have a chance to match any contract offers.
“I could say I want to go here or go there, but if it’s matched [by Bellator] then I stay,” Alvarez said.
UFC President Dana White said after UFC 153 that he is “definitely interested” in bringing Alvarez into the Octagon. Meanwhile, Rebney has of late seemed resigned to losing Alvarez.
Alvarez said he was enjoying life as a free agent.
“I get to sit down with Viacom and Bjorn and the people there. I get to sit down and hear what they have to say. It’s a good time for me and a good time for Bellator.”
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