While fight fans may not be able to name the fighters, Bellator 58 has an impressive main event that would hold the attention of fight fans if it was only able to grab it. Up against UFC 139, Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is set to face off against number one contender Michael Chandler in a bout that is very important for this organization. This promises to be an exciting main event for any fan who manages to see it.
The twenty-five year old undefeated prospect Chandler won his way into this title match by winning the Bellator season four lightweight tournament. In doing so, he was able to walk through Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and the tournament favorite, Patricky Freire. A powerful wrestler who is currently training at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Chandler is a four-time NCAA qualifier who comes from the same college wrestling program that has given us MMA fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. There will be no secret as to what Chandler is looking to do as he tries to win the biggest fight in his young career.
The eight-year veteran Alvarez is looking to continue the winning pattern that has helped him become one of the biggest names in the sport outside of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. With a 22-2 record, Alvarez quietly remains one the bigger names on the lightweight rankings. Another win would only increase his overall value to the UFC if he was ever inclined to make the jump to Zuffa’s larger, more octagonal, stage.
A former wrestler who has transitioned to mixed martial arts, Alvarez has demonstrated a stalwart takedown defense, but the question in this fight is whether that defense can withstand a wrestler of Chandler’s pedigree. Back in April, Alvarez was able to defeat another strong wrestler when he dominated Pat Curran for twenty-five minutes. He used his striking and takedown defense to keep the fight on the feet and pressure Curran around the cage.
Throughout the tournament, Chandler has been able to use his wrestling to push his opponents around the cage. While he did seem to slow down during the later moments against Woodward and Freire, he was still able to pull out the unanimous decision victory both times. He will be at a disadvantage against Alvarez, who has had to deal with 25-minute bouts in the past, and it will be vital for Chandler to pace himself throughout the fight.
While fight fans may have their attention elsewhere this weekend, they should take the time to program the DVR so that they can catch Bellator 58, even if after the fact. Along with the title bout, Marlon Sandro looks to make a return to the form that made him a two-time champion, Hector Lombard looks to extend an undefeated streak that spans four years, and Jessica Aguilar and Lisa Ellis-Ward attempt to put on a show for fans of women’s MMA. All in all, this promises to be a fight card that will surely bring Bellator fans an exciting night of fights.
