Eddie Alvarez Doesn’t Pick Fights, But Thinks Unification Bout With Will Brooks Makes Sense

Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has had his fair share of ups and downs in recent times, and his withdrawal from the promotion’s first PPV show was more of the same. Michael Chandler instead fought, and lost to Will Brooks in a close fight. Ironically, Alvarez now has the choice of who he gets to fight next.

Speaking with MMAFighting.com today, Alvarez outlined his feelings towards the new interim champion Will Brooks:

“More than anything I want people to know, I’ve never picked a fight. I get a call from the promotion, and I take the fight. I think it’s a shitty thing to do. I don’t think it’s fair that the fighters are picking who they fight. For me, if you put the interim title up, then the interim champ should get the shot. You are either the champion, or you’re not. That’s a title that a promoter made up. Yeah (it makes more sense to fight Will) he stepped up and won that fight. Eddie Alvarez don’t pick his fights.”

Alvarez was forced from the promotion’s inaugural PPV card after a concussion that he sustained in training, but it seems that the lightweight champion is back doing some light training.

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“I’m getting better every day. I’ve been using my down time and started cycling. I’m staying in shape and recovering as quick as possible. I can’t really get past pad work, I can’t do any live sparring yet. I was still trying to push it right the way up to the fight. I didn’t really have any time to rest, but now I’m not taking impacts it’s healing a lot quicker. I don’t see this going past a couple more weeks, I’d like to say I will be back in the gym in mid-June.”

Sitting on the sidelines, Alvarez watched as Will Brooks upset the former lightweight champion Michael Chandler at BMMA 120. Brooks took the interim belt by split decision, in a fight which was reminiscent of Alvarez vs. Chandler II.

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I scored it even at the end, but if I had to give it to someone, I would have given it to Will. Michael scored takedowns, but he didn’t do much damage on the ground. My honest assessment was, I feel like Mike was hurt, and he is too much of a sportsman to admit it. I feel Mike was hurt, I fought him twice and I have a good assessment of what he is like. I don’t think that was his best.”

“Will looked great, he used his movement well and it was a lot more competitive than what I thought it would be. If I’m not fighting Will, who everyone believes I should fight, then someone else will have made that decision. I’m going to do what I’m told. I haven’t got a call from anyone. I’m over (the Bellator court case), I’m like water, man.”

We are yet to hear of a return date for the BMMA 155-pound champion, but it looks like he doesn’t want to make a choice about the next in line to a title fight. Bjorn Rebney, the ball is back in your court. Is anyone interested in seeing Alvarez and Chandler make a trilogy bout, or should the promotion keep it straight by giving Brooks the unification bout?