Bjorn Rebney Says Bellator May Still Have To Make Chandler Vs. Alvarez 3 Next
After stepping up with just one weeks notice Will Brooks put in the performance of his life last night against Michael Chandler, managing to pull of the biggest win of his career.
Brooks beat the former champion in the co-main event of Bellator 120, the promotion’s first pay-per-view, to become the new interim lightweight title holder. With the belt it is presumed that he will go to face the divisions kingpin Eddie Alvarez; who Chandler was originally set to meet.
But that might not be the case.
When Alvarez signed his new contract, it was specifically for a third meeting with Chandler. If the 30-year old still wants the trilogy for his next fight, contractually, Bellator will have to give him it.
“The reality of the situation is that Ed’s contract specifies that his next fight be against Michael Chandler.” Bjorn Rebney said following last nights action. “So Ed now is in a position where he can choose to fight Chandler, and contractually we have to give him the Chandler fight.
It’s a situation we’ll have to sit down and discuss with him, and figure out where it goes, because he’s got paperwork and he’s got a contract that gives him the right to demand the Chandler fight.”
That could be a huge blow to Brooks who could miss his opportunity to fight Alvarez after earning it last night. According to Rebney, if the champion decides he still wants to fight Chandler when he is coming off a loss, it’s going to put Bellator in a difficult position.
“It brings up a lot of interesting questions.” Rebney told MMAJunkie. “It puts us in a difficult spot, but we’ll see what Ed’s position is and how to work through it. But right now, I don’t have as much flexibility.
He can demand the Chandler fight or not. Chandler’s still one of the greatest lightweights in all of MMA. Mike Chandler lost to an amazingly talented fighter tonight.”
The Bellator head says nothing is certain at the moment and they will need to speak to Alvarez. But it looks like it is going to be a complicated matter given the champions current contract.
“We’re going to have to sit down with Ed and talk through it, because he does have paperwork that pushes us in one direction.”
So, does Alvarez take his trilogy with Brooks or does he let Brooks have his rightful shot?
