Gilbert Melendez Makes His Case as World’s No. 1 Lightweight

Filed under: StrikeforceFor years, No. 1 has been a guess, an argument, a debate, and nothing more. But in this brave, new world, we move closer than ever to getting our answer. It will never be final, of course. Even when you have a dominant champion,…

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For years, No. 1 has been a guess, an argument, a debate, and nothing more. But in this brave, new world, we move closer than ever to getting our answer. It will never be final, of course. Even when you have a dominant champion, there is always someone else on the way up, someone who plants doubt in your mind. But we’re at least finally heading in the right direction. With the recent Zuffa-Strikeforce deal, we have 95 percent of the world’s best fighters under the same umbrella, and at some point in the near future, they’ll actually get in the cage together and fight.

Right now, it’s something like a civil war, two sides who need to be unified for the good of everyone involved, for both the people fighting and those waiting for resolution. Until then we’ll keep guessing as soldiers, err… fighters like Gilbert Melendez fire off their best ammunition, both physical and verbal.

The first man to defend a title in our new era, the Strikeforce lightweight champion wasted little time in voicing what was already on everyone’s minds.

“I’ll tell you what, I think it’s time we unify some titles,” Melendez said. “Who wants to see me fight for that UFC title? Let’s unify them in my hexagon. I’m the No. 1 lightweight in the world, baby. I’m coming for the spot.”

Eddie Alvarez Wins a Decision, Keeps Bellator Belt

Filed under: BellatorWhen Eddie Alvarez walked into the cage on Saturday night he was supposed to win in dominant fashion, befitting his status as the best and most popular fighter in the Bellator Fighting Championships. But Saturday’s title fight agai…

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When Eddie Alvarez walked into the cage on Saturday night he was supposed to win in dominant fashion, befitting his status as the best and most popular fighter in the Bellator Fighting Championships. But Saturday’s title fight against Pat Curran was tougher than Alvarez (and most fans) could have expected.

Alvarez won a unanimous decision to retain the Bellator lightweight title, and the scorecards (one judge scored it 49-46 while the other two judges scored it 50-45) make it look like the fight wasn’t close. But Curran was a tough customer who was in it until the final bell.

“That guy’s got a hard, hard head, man,” Alvarez said of Curran afterward. “He can take a shot.”

Bellator 39 Results: Alvarez vs. Curran, Saunders vs. Lee, More

Filed under: Bellator, ResultsMMA Fighting has live Bellator results of Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran and the rest of the MTV2 card happening tonight at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

In the main event, Alvarez will put his lightweight titl…

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MMA Fighting has live Bellator results of Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran and the rest of the MTV2 card happening tonight at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

In the main event, Alvarez will put his lightweight title on the line against season two tournament winner Curran.

Also in semifinal matchups, former Bellator champion Lyman Good will face Rick Hawn in a welterweight bout and Toby Imada will meet Patricky “Pitbull” Freire in a lightweight showdown.

Finally, in a special 175-pound attraction, UFC veteran Ben Saunders will face East Coast mainstay Matt Lee.

Bellator 39 results are below.

Bellator 39 Live Blog: Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran Updates

Filed under: BellatorThis is the Bellator live blog for Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran, the main event of tonight’s Bellator 39 event at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Alvarez (21-2) was supposed to defend his title against Curran (13-3) las…

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This is the Bellator live blog for Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran, the main event of tonight’s Bellator 39 event at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Alvarez (21-2) was supposed to defend his title against Curran (13-3) last fall but Curran had to bow out due to shoulder injury. Curran earned the championship shot by beating Mike Ricci, Roger Huerta and Toby Imada to become the season two Bellator lightweight tournament winner.

The live blog is below.

Bellator 39 Predictions

Filed under: BellatorBellator’s picked a good time for its best fight card of the year so far, with Bellator 39 taking place during an otherwise slow week for mixed martial arts, and a Saturday night without any UFC or Strikeforce competition. The Bell…

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Eddie Alvarez after a win at Bellator.Bellator’s picked a good time for its best fight card of the year so far, with Bellator 39 taking place during an otherwise slow week for mixed martial arts, and a Saturday night without any UFC or Strikeforce competition. The Bellator card should be a highly entertaining one, headlined by a lightweight title fight featuring Bellator’s top star, Eddie Alvarez.

What: Bellator XXXIX

When: Saturday, the MTV2 televised card starts at 9 PM ET

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut

Predictions on the four televised fights below.

Pat Curran Ready to Unleash Surprise on Bellator Champ Eddie Alvarez

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorSaturday night is supposed to be another showcase night for Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. He is perhaps the most highly ranked fighter in the world not currently on the Zuffa payroll after the com…

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Pat CurranSaturday night is supposed to be another showcase night for Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. He is perhaps the most highly ranked fighter in the world not currently on the Zuffa payroll after the company swallowed up Strikeforce in a recent mega-deal. Alvarez has won 11 of his last 12, finished six straight opponents and is as much as a 6-fo-1 favorite to retain his title at Saturday’s Bellator 39 event in Uncasville, Connecticut.

But challenger Pat Curran has a big surprise in store for him.

The soft-spoken 23-year-old has hardly been seen or heard from since capturing the season two lightweight tournament last June, winning as an underdog three straight times in the process. He was supposed to fight Alvarez soon after, but a shoulder injury forced a postponement of the title bout.

Ten months later, Curran is healthy and set to unleash a big secret on Alvarez and the rest of the MMA world.