Photo via Sherdog.com
A rematch between former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez (22-3) and DREAM champ Shinya Aoki (30-5) is starting to shape up, as news comes that the bout is likely to take place on April 20, 2012 as part of Bellator 66.
MMAjunkie.com announced the event on Sunday morning.
Nothing is official yet, as Alvarez noted in a previous interview that he was still waiting for Aoki to sign the contract despite verbal agreements.
Both men fought back in December 2008 in Japan for the WAMMA lightweight title. It took Aoki 92-seconds to end the bout, catching Alvarez in a heel hook submission.
Since that time Alvarez went on a seven fight tare with Bellator winning the inaugural lightweight title in 2009. Alvarez lost that title last November to Michael Chandler in what many felt was one of the best bouts of 2011, only overshadowed by the Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua match slated for the same night. Alvarez had been looking for an immediate rematch with Chandler but was only offered a spot in the season six tournament, which Alvarez turned down.
Aoki has won seven of a row, and is 11-2 since his win over Alvarez three years ago. The DREAM champ recently defended his title last December, earning a unanimous decision over Satoru Kitaoka at the New Year’s Eve show in Japan. Ninteen of Aoki’s thirty victories have come via submission.