Despite the loss to Brooks, Chandler can still make a trilogy against Alvarez

E. Alvarez (left) and M. Chandler (right) had one of the most acclaimed fights in Bellator history. Photo: Bellator/Disclosure

The trilogy between Michael chandler and Eddie Alvarez was Bellator's big bet for 2014. The fight was scheduled by the organization to headline Bellator 120, the first event in its history to be marketed under the pay-per-view. A week before the match took place, however, Alvarez suffered a concussion and ended up being cut. In his place, the event chose Will Brooks, winner of the lightweight tournament, to fight for the interim belt against the former champion. Last Saturday (17), Brooks surprised by defeating the favorite Michael by split decision from the judges. The triumph, however, may not be the end of hopes for a repeat of the duel between Chandler and Alvarez, as revealed by president Bjorn Rebney.

“Eddie (Alvarez)’s contract specifies that he can demand a fight against Chandler. So this puts us in a very interesting position now”, said the director in an interview with the “MMA Fighting” website, acknowledging “jumping the queue” if that is the wish of the champion of the under-70 kg category. “We're going to have to go to Eddie and talk to him about this. We have to see where his head is. He may demand Michael chandler and fight Mike even coming off a loss to Will Brooks,” he added.

The organization's two main names in the lightweight division have already met twice within the cage from Bellator. At the first opportunity, in 2011, Chandler won by submission in the fourth round. In the rematch, in November last year, Alvarez was declared the winner by split decision from the judges, in a fight that ended up being nominated for the “Fight of the Year 2013” ​​award.