Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez both recently became free agents following the end of each fighter’s contract with their promotions. Now it would appear that Chandler is looking to lock down a trilogy rematch against his former opponent.
Chandler and Alvarez have fought twice before. Chandler first defeated Alvarez with a fourth round submission at Bellator 58. However, Alvarez earned a split decision victory over his opponent in their intense rematch back at Bellator 106.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Michael Chandler offered his interest in fighting Eddie Alvarez a third time.
“I have a ton of respect for him as a fighter, and I just want to see the best for him. If that means staying with the UFC, I hope he stays in the UFC. If that means coming to Bellator, I would love to welcome him to Bellator and finish that trilogy. There’s not a day that’s gone by recently since he announced that this last fight was the last fight on his contract, that people haven’t stopped talking about the trilogy.
“People are putting videos out there and asking the, ‘What-ifs’ and whatnot. I got a ton of respect for the guy. He fights for the right reasons, he fights like a dog and I’d love to share the cage with him again.”
“There’s not a guy that I respect in this sport more than Eddie Alvarez. When you share 50 minutes inside a cage – I’ve got a scar on my lip that he gave me, I’ve got another scar on my eyebrow that he gave me. I could look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘That’s from that guy, that’s from that guy.’ Eddie put it on me here and there. Being 1-1, me finishing him the first fight, him beating me in the second fight; Eddie’s just a warrior. He’s been Bellator champion, he’s been UFC champion. He’s been champion in every major organization in the entire world.”
