Eddie Alvarez will have to go through tournament

 

When the mostly unknown Michael Chandler choked out Bellator’s most popular fighter,Eddie Alvarez, in the fourth round of their Nov. 19 bout in Hollywood, Fla., ending the latter’s 29-month lightweight title reign, the normal MMA protocol would be to build for a rematch.


Not only is Chandler-Alvarez 2 the fight that would have the most fan interest of any two fighters on the company roster, but it would be a rematch of one of the best fights in company history. The two superbly conditioned fighters went nonstop, up and down, trading hard shots, before Chandler sealed the deal and put an exclamation point on the company’s most recent 12-week season.


But because of Bellator’s matchmaking structure, where someone only can get a title shot after winning an eight-man, three-month tournament, the rematch won’t be made anytime soon, and certainly not in time for the next season in February.


Yahoo

and that's why their tournament to title structure will go out the window.

 

Thatsjustlikeyouropinionman - Yea, that's the way it works <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


i love it, can't wait to see alvarez back in the tournament.

i think this really strengthens them, immediate rematches for champs, or just 1 win is kinda BS imo.

3 fights in 3 months and he has his rematch, whats not to love.

and all that time eddie can prove he wasn't overrated, the tournament will be tougher this time through.

He's gonna make that tourney his B*tch.

I like this structure its the way a lot of early UFC fans prob saw it progressing, a tournament format that worked by taking out the chance for short term injuries to stop fights from happening. Instead we got Edgar vs Maynard 3. Bellator Viacom = first real competition for Zuffa since Pride. Yayyyy. Phone Post

Love it!!!! Bellator may not have the depth of the UFCs talent pool, but the tournament structure ensures that the TRUE #1 contender will always get the title shot. Phone Post

 The concept is the fucking shit.



I could research but it would take literally several hours to show how many bullshit title shots have happened in the UFC.



I have never heard anyone EVER bitch about anyone in Bellator getting a title shot. EVER.

Its called legitimacy. I for one like the xoncept. Phone Post

And Chandler will fight someone in between without his belt on the line. thats the only thing I hate about the Bellator format

 Champs shouldn't get an immediate rematch unless the fight was controversial for some reason. Once you lose your title you have to work your way back up for another title shot. I love the fact that Alvarez has to re-enter the tournament.

I love the way Bellator does title shots the number one contender has always earned there claim for a championship fight. Phone Post

Legit appreciation for Bellator here....



Free HD cards that usually deliver?  I'm sold -

Stu Cazzo - Legit appreciation for Bellator here....

Free HD cards that usually deliver?  I'm sold -

I can't get mtv2 in hd I will be glad when they switch to Spike. Phone Post

ClinchedUp - I love the way Bellator does title shots the number one contender has always earned there claim for a championship fight. <img src="/images/phone/droid.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


yes its cool, but I don't like the champs fighting people without their belt on the line. You can basically go out and prove youre better than the champ and it doesnt matter.

OnlyTheStrongSurvive - 
ClinchedUp - I love the way Bellator does title shots the number one contender has always earned there claim for a championship fight. <img src="/images/phone/droid.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>




yes its cool, but I don't like the champs fighting people without their belt on the line. You can basically go out and prove youre better than the champ and it doesnt matter.
 I don't think the champ fights in the tourney....



(correct me if I'm wrong)

what will going back into the tourney do to Alvarez's pay structure? How many fights left on his contract? is he better off just doing a few of the random fights they hold then jumping?

Bellator's format is great for creating talent, but bad for keeping and monetizing talent. Same reason the UFC stopped tournaments -- one the fighter shares a significant (or even grater) share of the draw than the organization, both the org and the fighter want to make the most of it.

They should keep the tournaments for newer folk, and rotate in title shots for guys that have the skills and records that deserve them (like champ rematches) instead of useless disaster-waiting-to-happen non-title fights

Stu Cazzo - 
OnlyTheStrongSurvive - 
ClinchedUp - I love the way Bellator does title shots the number one contender has always earned there claim for a championship fight. <img src="/images/phone/droid.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


yes its cool, but I don't like the champs fighting people without their belt on the line. You can basically go out and prove youre better than the champ and it doesnt matter.
 I don't think the champ fights in the tourney....

(correct me if I'm wrong)<br type="_moz" />


no but they will pick an opponent to fight like any other promotion, but not stick their belt on the line. its most likely to keep them active. for example, Hector Lombard's fight against Falaniko Vitali at Bellator 44 was fought at 185 pounds but was still a non title bout.

OnlyTheStrongSurvive - 
Stu Cazzo - 
OnlyTheStrongSurvive - 
ClinchedUp - I love the way Bellator does title shots the number one contender has always earned there claim for a championship fight. <img src="/images/phone/droid.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


yes its cool, but I don't like the champs fighting people without their belt on the line. You can basically go out and prove youre better than the champ and it doesnt matter.
 I don't think the champ fights in the tourney....

(correct me if I'm wrong)<br type="_moz" />


no but they will pick an opponent to fight like any other promotion, but not stick their belt on the line. its most likely to keep them active. for example, Hector Lombard's fight against Falaniko Vitali at Bellator 44 was fought at 185 pounds but was still a non title bout.


i really think this is just a temporary condition for Bellator, once they have enough fighters to run 2-4 tournaments a year per weight, the champ wont need to fight non-tournament winners.

for now, i like that they are at least making the champ fight while his challenger is fighting 3 times in 3 months.

AsimpleFan - 
Stu Cazzo - Legit appreciation for Bellator here....

Free HD cards that usually deliver?  I'm sold -<br type="_moz" />
I can't get mtv2 in hd I will be glad when they switch to Spike. <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


i hear MTV2 is getting an HD channel 1/1/2012, so you may not have to wait till they move to spike in 2013

I like the tournament format but until they can run them concurrently for each weight class it really doesn't make much sense. Ever having a champion fight in a non-title fight is ridiculous. Phone Post