Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler III To Headline First Bellator Pay-Per-View Event
The Bellator lightweight trilogy between champion Eddie Alvarez and former titleholder Michael Chandler will be a pay-per-view event.
“I’m fortunate to be the guy who is going to be able to put on Chandler vs. Alvarez 3 for the lightweight world title. It will be a pay-per-view event,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney on a media conference call on Monday.
Chandler (12-1) defeated Alvarez by submission at Bellator 58 in November 2011 to capture the lightweight crown. Alvarez (25-3) avenged the loss and won back the belt at Bellator 106 by split decision.
“These two guys, the first fight that they had was the best fight I had ever seen live. The second fight they had was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. Sometimes guys just match-up and stylistically they can not help but just give you pure magic when they enter the cage. These two guys are that,” said Rebney.
“That last performance that they had on November 2, it was heartwrenching. It was an unbelievable performance. We’re going to do the third fight. It will be a pay-per-view. The lightweight title will be on the line, and I can’t wait to see it,” added the Bellator CEO.
Bellator 106 was originally supposed to be a pay-per-view event, but was moved to Spike TV when headliner and former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz pulled out of the scheduled fight against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson due to neck injury. The trilogy between Alvarez and Chandler will be the promotion’s first time on pay-per-view, and the organization plans to use the same strategy on pricing that it did when planning Bellator 106.
“Price point-wise, we’re going to apply the same philosophy we did last time. We’re going to look to our affiliate partners around the country. We’re going to look to everybody from the Time Warner, the iN DEMANDs, the Direct TVs and the others and let them work with us as partners to determine the appropriate price point for it,” said Rebney. “You’ll see different price points around the country.
No date or venue was announced for the event, but it will take place this spring.
“We haven’t finalized the date yet, but it will be incredible,” said Rebney.
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