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Bellator Champ Eddie Alvarez Feels Fighting For The UFC Too Costly

For Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (22-2), proving that he’s one of the best 155 pound fighters in the world is one important part of his personality, but controlling his own destiny means to him than moving promotions to fight the best.
With many of the worlds best fighters coming under control of Zuffa, after their […]

For Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (22-2), proving that he’s one of the best 155 pound fighters in the world is one important part of his personality, but controlling his own destiny means to him than moving promotions to fight the best.

With many of the worlds best fighters coming under control of Zuffa, after their purchase of Strikeforce, Alvarez still does not see the appeal of signing with the worlds biggest promotion as the risk-reward ratio isn’t worth it for him. Added to the top of the list is the amount of control Alvarez would be giving up to sign a UFC contract.

In a recent interview with Josh Gross (audio), which was transcribed by FightOpinion.com, Alvarez talked about everything he’d be giving up simply for a chance to fight the top fighters in the UFC.

“I feel like I still can have some sort of say with where my career goes and what sponsors I want to get and whether I want to be in a video game or not. There’s a lot of things. The whole signing with Zuffa thing is a big control issue with me and I don’t know, I just… I’m happy that they’re doing what they’re doing but right now I don’t know if it’s the right move for me…”

“They can offer someone, you know, $5,000 and $5,000, the guy can fight at first and get his face broken to pieces and then he can totally put on a poor performance and then get fired. That scares me. I would like to be paid like an athlete and, I don’t know. I guess I have a lot of issues with it and when I was, I believe when I was ranked #2 in the world, I was offered something from the UFC but it was significantly lower than what I was getting paid at that time, almost like insultingly low and I just, it wasn’t the right move for me at that time….”

“It would be great to fight them guys but at what cost, you know what I mean? At what cost to me? Do I have to, what measures do I have to take in order to fight them guys? Do I have to take an $80,000 pay cut? Do I have give up all my, every single ancillary right I can dream of? Do I have to, you know, now I can’t get certain sponsors that I want to get certain sponsors that I want to get because I have to pay the UFC before they pay me? There’s a lot of issues involved and I don’t know if people understand that. And if I was 20 years old and I was single and I had no kids, I would jump to the UFC tomorrow. But the reality is (that) I have three kids and I have a family to take care of and everything has to line up.”

Cole Konrad Meets Paul Buentello In Heavyweight “Super Fight” April 23

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (April 4th, 2011) – After an impressive run through Bellator’s Heavyweight Tournament in Season 3, Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Cole “The Polar Bear” Konrad will step into the cage for the first time since his Championship fight when he takes on veteran knockout artist Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello in […]

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (April 4th, 2011) – After an impressive run through Bellator’s Heavyweight Tournament in Season 3, Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Cole “The Polar Bear” Konrad will step into the cage for the first time since his Championship fight when he takes on veteran knockout artist Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello in a Heavyweight Super Fight on April 23rd from the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma LIVE on MTV2.

“Cole had three very dominant performances for us last season on his way to becoming our first Heavyweight World Champion,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “I’m expecting big things from Cole, and Paul will provide a fantastic test for our young champ.”

Before entering MMA, Konrad (7-0) came into mixed martial arts arena with a reputation as one of the most decorated heavyweight wrestlers to ever make the transition into the sport. As a wrestler at the University of Minnesota, he notched two NCAA Division I Heavyweight Championships in the 285 lb division. Now undefeated and a Bellator World Champion, “The Polar Bear” is ready for the tough task that is Paul Buentello.

“I’m not taking Paul Buentello lightly for one moment,” said a modest Konrad. “I feel like this fight with Paul is going to be the toughest fight of my career, and that’s exactly how I’m preparing for it. Just because he’s a little older doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. He has a ton of experience, and that definitely works to his advantage.”

The experience Konrad mentions should work to Buentello’s favor, as the former King of the Cage Champion has spent time with the UFC and Strikeforce in his nearly 15 year career, and currently trains out of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) alongside UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and others. With an impressive 17 knockout victories to his name, it’s no secret the strategy “The Headhunter” will employ.

“With a nickname like “The Headhunter”, most of my opponents know that I’m looking to stand and bang,” said Buentello. “I’m definitely expecting for Cole Konrad to try to get me to the ground as soon as possible. I have to pull the trigger in this fight. I got into this sport making a name for myself for putting my hands on my opponent’s faces, and I definitely want to get back to my roots in this fight. I plan on standing my ground and putting my hands on Cole.”

Even with his experience, Buentello (29-13) knows he is seen as the underdog in the upcoming fight; a notion he will try and use to his advantage.

“In my mind I see this fight like David versus Goliath. Cole Konrad is a lot bigger than me, and a lot of people are expecting for him to beat me. They’re expecting for him to take me down and hold me down, kind of how David was supposed to lose against Goliath. I know what I’m expected to do and I know what I’m capable of doing, so it’s up for me to go out there and perform the way I know I can.”

Buentello will get that chance on April 23rd at Bellator 42, LIVE on MTV2.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

Toby Imada Okay After “Pitbull” TKO Loss At Bellator 39

Well if you watched last nights Bellator 39 broadcast, or viewed the video above, then you know that Bellator Season Two finalist Toby Imada suffered a brutal TKO loss Saturday night to Patricky “Pitbull” Freire in the Season Four semifinals. Imada was basically knocked out on his feet by a flying knee from Freiere, […]

Click here to view the embedded video.

What most people didn’t see was the medical staff taking Imada out of the cage via stretcher. He was whisked away to the hospital where he was cleared by physicians. The fighter still had the presence of mind to make it back to the arena for the post-fight press conference.

“Well shit happens. Patricky’s a strong guy. I was really hoping for more of a battle. Stuff happens. It happens to everybody. We’re not made of steel, so to speak.” “I knew he liked boxing, so I was ready to do that, too. Unfortunately, I got a little anxious, and I’m the one who left myself open. I was expecting a ground game. I knew he’d probably want to prove something by taking me down and submitting me.”

The loss stopped a two-fight win streak for Imada, who defeated Josh Shockley in a first round submission at Bellator 36 to move into the Season Four semi-finals.

HT: Sherdog.com for the comment

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Talks Bellator 39, Season 5

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney talks about the action from Saturday nights Bellator 39 event at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, as well as upcoming action for Season Five.
– 00:18 – Rebney never thought he’d see Toby Imada knocked out in a Bellator cage.
– 00:46 – Rebney confirms the next full season starts on […]

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney talks about the action from Saturday nights Bellator 39 event at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, as well as upcoming action for Season Five.

– 00:18 – Rebney never thought he’d see Toby Imada knocked out in a Bellator cage.
– 00:46 – Rebney confirms the next full season starts on Sept. 10 and will feature a welterweight tournament.
– 01:10 – Saunders will get one more fight on television and if he wins he’ll be included in the Season Five welterweight tournament.
– 01:55 – Rebney wants to see Lyman Good back in the next tournament
– 02:25 – Says champ Eddie Alvarez holds himself to a high standard
– 03:14 – Rebney is very happy with the performances of the “Pitbull” brothers (Patricio and Patricky Freire)
– 04:30 – Rebney on Toby Imada’s TKO loss to Patricky Freire Saturday night

HT: MMADieHards.com

Bellator 39 Video Recap – Alvarez Retains Title, Hawn Moves Into Lightweight Final

Bellator lightweight Eddie Alvarez failed to finish opponent Pat Curran last night in the main event of the MTV2 live broadcast, and instead had to settle for a unanimous victory in his first title defense. While Season Four Welterweight Tournament semifinalist Rick Hawn managed to squeeze out a split decision over former champion Lymon […]

HT: ESPN.com

Ben Saunders Says Matt Lee “Toughest SOB” After TKO Win

Bellator Fighting Championships demonstrated once again last night, that you don’t necessarily have to be part of the Zuffa Empire to put on some ‘hell yeah’ fights. If you didn’t catch the action on MTV 2 then you missed one of the nastiest KO’s of the year, courtesy a Patricky Freire flying knee on Toby […]

Bellator Fighting Championships demonstrated once again last night, that you don’t necessarily have to be part of the Zuffa Empire to put on some ‘hell yeah’ fights. If you didn’t catch the action on MTV 2 then you missed one of the nastiest KO’s of the year, courtesy a Patricky Freire flying knee on Toby Imada, the highly regarded Eddie Alvarez defending his lightweight belt against Pat Curran, and a ‘close your eyes kids’ slugfest between Ben Saunders and Matt Lee. Yup, that’s “Killa B” Saunders, formerly of the UFC.

The much bigger Saunders pounded away at his opponent with knees and punches that would have left most of us poor slobs sobbing and broken early in round one, but Lee kept returning fire and coming back for more. When a bloodied Lee (and we’re talking Rated R bloody, not just a trickle) came out for round three, Saunders saluted his foe before resuming the beat down. After the ATT fighter opened yet another cut on Lee moments in, the cageside physician put an end to the violence. Speaking on his Twitter account after, Saunders had this to say about the resilient Lee:

Sorry guys I did my best to get the KO but Matt Lee has to be the toughest SOB I have ever fought! Props to him and his camp!

Yes, hats off to Mr. Lee for the inspiring and ballsy performance. It will be interesting to see what Bellator has in store for Saunders next, who has now won 2 straight since being cut by the UFC.