Michael Chandler Open for Trilogy, Eddie Alvarez Says, 'Let it Go'
Michael Chandler Open for Trilogy, Eddie Alvarez Says, 'Let it Go'
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is opened to a third fight with current UFC champion Eddie Alvarez
Conor McGregor versus Nate Diaz might be the trilogy everyone is clamoring for these days, but one not short behind on everyone’s wish lists is a decider fight between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler.
While the two are currently signed to different promotions, the fight of course cannot take place, however, one half of the equation, Michael Chandler, remains optimistic that the fight could happen down the line.
“He said, too bad you didn’t sign with the UFC, we could’ve made some magic,” Chandler said, referring to Alvarez on the MMA Hour. “I agree with him, but at the end of the day, Eddie freakin protect that chin. Hold onto that belt and like I said, at the end of the day, I’m only 30-years-old. He’s been fighting since he was 18-years-old. I’m still green in this sport.
“I’m just now hitting my stride and hitting my full potential. I’ve got another four, five six years of my full potential ahead with power, speed, accuracy, and I’m only getting better. At the end of the day, I’ve got a long time left in this sport to make magic and whether that happens in this organization or that organization, or in his backyard in Philly—that is going to happen. I just hope he can hang on long enough to let it happen.
“I’m a fan of him," Chandler added. "I’m a fan of his fighting style. I want to fight him again and he wants to fight me.”
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Ealvarezfight/status/762490764634894336" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
While Chandler may believe that to be the case, not so long ago, Eddie Alvarez appeared to have a slightly different point of view.
Three weeks prior to Chandler’s comments, Alvarez responded to a post by Bellator on Twitter showing Chandler standing victorious over Alvarez in their first fight in Bellator in 2011. Suffice to say, the current UFC lightweight champion wasn’t impressed and urged his former employers and former rival to move on.
“I wasn’t irritated but I thought it was comical,” Alvarez said three weeks ago during a media day. “They are still holding into a fight that happened five years ago and replaying it. I mean, it’s cool, but I did beat him. In the rematch I beat him and they don’t play that. They only play the fight that happened five years ago. I told them they just need to let it go, stop holding on. Build something new and stop drawing on the past.”
When asked directly if he thought the third fight would ever happen Alvarez didn’t sound convinced.
“I dunno man, not now,” Alvarez said. “I've no idea what his contract is like with Bellator, but to me it looks like he’s just kinda running out of guys to fight. All they are doing is just recycling the older guys. I don’t know what their situation is but it doesn’t look like there are a lot of contenders in line for him.”
Michael Chandler is set to defend his lightweight title against Benson Henderson at Bellator 163 on Nov. 19. There has yet to be any word released on who, where or when the UFC lightweight champion will step in the cage next..
While the two are currently signed to different promotions, the fight of course cannot take place, however, one half of the equation, Michael Chandler, remains optimistic that the fight could happen down the line.
“He said, too bad you didn’t sign with the UFC, we could’ve made some magic,” Chandler said, referring to Alvarez on the MMA Hour. “I agree with him, but at the end of the day, Eddie freakin protect that chin. Hold onto that belt and like I said, at the end of the day, I’m only 30-years-old. He’s been fighting since he was 18-years-old. I’m still green in this sport.
“I’m just now hitting my stride and hitting my full potential. I’ve got another four, five six years of my full potential ahead with power, speed, accuracy, and I’m only getting better. At the end of the day, I’ve got a long time left in this sport to make magic and whether that happens in this organization or that organization, or in his backyard in Philly—that is going to happen. I just hope he can hang on long enough to let it happen.
“I’m a fan of him," Chandler added. "I’m a fan of his fighting style. I want to fight him again and he wants to fight me.”
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Ealvarezfight/status/762490764634894336" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
While Chandler may believe that to be the case, not so long ago, Eddie Alvarez appeared to have a slightly different point of view.
Three weeks prior to Chandler’s comments, Alvarez responded to a post by Bellator on Twitter showing Chandler standing victorious over Alvarez in their first fight in Bellator in 2011. Suffice to say, the current UFC lightweight champion wasn’t impressed and urged his former employers and former rival to move on.
“I wasn’t irritated but I thought it was comical,” Alvarez said three weeks ago during a media day. “They are still holding into a fight that happened five years ago and replaying it. I mean, it’s cool, but I did beat him. In the rematch I beat him and they don’t play that. They only play the fight that happened five years ago. I told them they just need to let it go, stop holding on. Build something new and stop drawing on the past.”
When asked directly if he thought the third fight would ever happen Alvarez didn’t sound convinced.
“I dunno man, not now,” Alvarez said. “I've no idea what his contract is like with Bellator, but to me it looks like he’s just kinda running out of guys to fight. All they are doing is just recycling the older guys. I don’t know what their situation is but it doesn’t look like there are a lot of contenders in line for him.”
Michael Chandler is set to defend his lightweight title against Benson Henderson at Bellator 163 on Nov. 19. There has yet to be any word released on who, where or when the UFC lightweight champion will step in the cage next..