Report: Eddie Alvarez At 'All But Impossible' Contract Impasse With Bellator
by Josh Nason on Feb 10, 2012 6:49 PM EST
in Bellator News
Email
Print
Fighters Only reported Friday afternoon that Eddie Alvarez is having issues with Bellator Fighting Championships on a contract extension and the chances of it being resolved aren't realistic.
From web editor John Joe O'Regan:
Both sides have been in negotiations on a new deal for some time but a source tells Fighters Only that he and Bellator and "miles apart" on the value of a new contract.
The source says that the tone has "soured" recently and that a resolution now seems all but impossible, with the respective parties adamant that they cannot move from their stated positions.
Alvarez (22-3, 6-1 Bellator) had a seven fight win streak snapped and his 155-pound title taken by Michael Chandler last November in one of the year's best fights. However, he was oddly left out of the brackets for the impending lightweight tournament with promotion head Bjorn Rebney saying it wasn't the right move at the time. The 28-year-old is one of the promotion's highest paid fighters and most recognizable stars.
In a recent interview with Heavy MMA, Alvarez addressed his contract situation.
"I still have eight or nine months left on my contract with Bellator or one or two fights," Alvarez said. "I’m waiting to finalize things, but I believe we are going to be doing the fight with Shinya Aoki. That would be on April 20, but we just received the contracts and we are looking them over. Nothing is 100 percent right now, but that is what we are aiming to do."
Without a title, there's no championship clause to keep him in the promotion if he wants to leave for either the UFC or a much-discussed fight with Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez as a tantalizing possibility.
Bloody Elbow reported that Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II was a go for April 20 but as Alvarez said above, no official announcement has been made yet. It's important to note that he recently changed management, going with growing powerhouse Authentic Sports Management that boasts a roster that includes Rashad Evans, Miguel Torres, Matt Mitrione, Melvin Guillard and more.
96 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
If the Aoki fight happens and he wins
Can’t wait to see him fighting in the UFC or Strikeforce.
Proud member of The Voices in Paul Harris' Head, BECW Season 2.
"By doubting we come to inquiry and by inquiry we perceive the truth." -- Abelard
Had to lose his title to do so
One of these days it’d be nice to see this championship clause contested in court on whether a promoter can legally keep a fighter indefinitely because he happens to have a hunk of tin that’s only recognised by that promotion, and not any governing body or independent organisation. Something tells me if a Boxer were to be awarded a Bob Arum or Oscar de la Hoya belt and was told they couldn’t leave Top Rank or Golden Boy until they lost a fight with this ‘title’ on the line, there’d be lawsuits aplenty.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Follow me on Twitter @KJGould
Like me on Facebook
The Alvarez situation presents a timely reminder of the restrictive nature of the champion’s clause. Bellator is probably the only current U.S.-based promotion where you might see either a title holder or tournament champ challenge the clause. I doubt that organizations like Titan or Tachi Palace even think of telling guys they can’t go elsewhere if they win one of their belts. (Well, I’d be surprised if they do, at least.)
My guess is that it would be considered analogous to a covenant not to compete, which is standard in a lot of industries where key employees have talents or knowledge that would be of benefit to a business’s competitors. The strongest argument against enforcing the clause in the Bellator situation is that the relative inactivity of their title holders and tournament champs is an unfair restriction on their opportunity to profit from being a champ.
Melvin and I say: Please visit
http://danieljamesmillerfoundation.wordpress.com/how-to-donate/
Boxing has that whole Ali Act thing that Zuffa hates ever so much.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
And Zuffa pay to lobby against in Washington DC
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Follow me on Twitter @KJGould
Like me on Facebook
I would like to see him in SF
Mendes needs some fresh competition….
by rscott94 on Feb 10, 2012 6:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
...so does Melendez
Matt Janecek
MBA, 2011
An MBA on MMA: mixed martial arts thru the lens of business
mba-mma.blogspot.com
by mjanecek on Feb 10, 2012 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Damn it
Haha you’re correct *Melendes
by rscott94 on Feb 10, 2012 7:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Gotta go there
Melendez*
Quietly leading Cecil Peoples Champs to victory and beyond.
All in the game yo, all in the game
by Our Bovine Public on Feb 10, 2012 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
Busted
There’s no asterisk in Melendes or Melendez!
Melvin and I say: Please visit
http://danieljamesmillerfoundation.wordpress.com/how-to-donate/
by ( . Y . ) on Feb 10, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
....
I surrender and give up…. epic fail
by rscott94 on Feb 10, 2012 7:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Medium-rare, just how I like it.
by Sonnenmeister on Feb 10, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Yes, it can
The person that wrote/created this is an idiot.
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
by Charles Awad on Feb 10, 2012 7:47 PM EST up reply actions
Maddox is epic fail
people use grammatical incorrectness on the internet for effect.
follow me on twitter @polyh3dron
also his fucking graphics like this look like they're from a Geocities website circa 1996.
follow me on twitter @polyh3dron
In other words, Maddox wants you to say "epically fail"
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
Out of Treble | Twitter
by James Brady on Feb 10, 2012 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
Or that something was an epic failure.
I agree with him. I don’t think shitty grammar is very cute or funny
There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 11, 2012 4:13 AM EST up reply actions
The only thing more annoying than people who don't use proper grammar are the people who whine about it on the internet.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
Out of Treble | Twitter
I find people who speak with food in their mouths more annoying than that.
Melvin and I say: Please visit
http://danieljamesmillerfoundation.wordpress.com/how-to-donate/
I get peeved
when people who are right in front of you don’t hold the door open, and let it slam on you. So uncouth
There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 12, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
Losing that belt was the best thing for Alvarez
Writing things on occasion @ Head Kick Legend.
Team Captain for Ruining Your Special Night. That's what we do.
As long as he wins his next fight.
"Never say anything that doesn't improve on silence." -Richard Yates
Proud Member of "The Voices In Paul Harris' Head." The handsomest cyber-team on the inter webs.
His value went down.
"No person can disobey reason, without giving up his claim to be a rational creature." - Swift
As did his rank
But if he beats Aoki then comes to the UFC, and has a busy 3 or more fights in a year schedule and takes home a few ‘Of the Night’ bonuses and goes on a good streak….I’d imagine his popularity and financial situation would be better than if he was still just the Bellator champ fighting 1-2 times a year.
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
by Chris Groves on Feb 11, 2012 1:31 AM EST up reply actions
He said before that he didn’t really want to go to the UFC. Things may have changed since then, but at the time he was content at being the best in Bellator and being extremely well paid for the level of competition he faced. I’d like to see him in the UFC. The LW division is already nuts, he’d be a good edition. Despite me not liking him.
INEPT coming for the season 2 BECW title.
"Believe me I have my own demon in my had. People has no idea how dark I am in my head sometime. Nick Diaz deserves to be beat down."- Georges St Pierre
Follow me on Twitter if you like MMA, baseball, and moderately funny people: @TimBernier31
He has to go from being THE top paid fighter to an opening round fight that pays 10k/10k
which I imagine is a big drop off, and it would be against a nobody. I think if Bellator champs become notable enough while fighting there they are going to have a hard time getting them to fight in tournaments again just for a title shot.
Do you really think he’ll only get 10k/10k if he fights in the UFC, or are you talking about another MMA promotion? I would imagine that if Alvarez signs with the UFC that he’d get paid much more than that, but less than what he got as a Champion in Bellator.
Check out the C&D Channel on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Gobusiness123 for MMA reviews, predictions, analysis, and other MMA related content.
by chrisbboy82 on Feb 11, 2012 12:23 AM EST up reply actions
I think he is referring to getting paid 10/10 in Bellator's opening round of their tournament
fighting a nobody.
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
by Chris Groves on Feb 11, 2012 1:33 AM EST up reply actions
Sign with the ufc!
so many fun fights for him.
You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig.
Could Eddie make 145? I don’t think he has the wrestling ability to compete at the top of the UFC’s LW division.
Don't follow in my footsteps I walk into walls
Probably not
He’s competed at 170 before, and he looks like a big lightweight.
Proud member of The Voices in Paul Harris' Head, BECW Season 2.
"By doubting we come to inquiry and by inquiry we perceive the truth." -- Abelard
by Patrick Wyman on Feb 10, 2012 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
This situation points up one of the flaws in their basic format: What do you do with the champ after he loses the belt and feels he’s too good to be forced to go through a tournament to regain it? If this promotion stick around they’re going to run into the same problem with other champs.
Melvin and I say: Please visit
http://danieljamesmillerfoundation.wordpress.com/how-to-donate/
No kidding.
Shit will really hit the fan when the champ loses in a non-title fight.
"No person can disobey reason, without giving up his claim to be a rational creature." - Swift
M'Pumbu?
BECW Season 2 Captain of the Intellegent Northern English Picking Team - 80% more INEPT than all of you, 8 times out of 12
Please visit the Daniel James Miller Foundation and donate.
by wonderfulspam on Feb 10, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
Okay look, I'll tell you the truth for once
Eddie is being a complete diva and it has nothing to do with the money they are paying him. He is not going to sign on the dotted line until Bjorn Rebney provides an eyebrow waxer backstage at every event Eddie fights on.
Writing things on occasion @ Head Kick Legend.
Team Captain for Ruining Your Special Night. That's what we do.
by Earl Montclair on Feb 10, 2012 7:05 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
How expensive can that be?
Get that wax, Rebney. C’mon.
"A belt only covers two inches of your ****and the rest you need to back up on your own." Royce Gracie (allegedly...I just read it somewhere and thought it was cool for my sig!)
I know, right!
Stitch can groom them shits while he wraps Eddie’s hands!
Writing things on occasion @ Head Kick Legend.
Team Captain for Ruining Your Special Night. That's what we do.
by Earl Montclair on Feb 10, 2012 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
As the owner of a rather large set of eyebrows i feel that should be his right not a demand.
by mooseknuckle on Feb 10, 2012 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
Eugene Levy co-signs
Writing things on occasion @ Head Kick Legend.
Team Captain for Ruining Your Special Night. That's what we do.
by Earl Montclair on Feb 10, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
Good don't extend lose to Aoki fight again if you have to and sign with the UFC they will take him
Twitter @MaZZM
http://www.mazzznet.com/
Either I'm drunk or you are.
Because that sentence confuses the shit out of me.
"Never say anything that doesn't improve on silence." -Richard Yates
Proud Member of "The Voices In Paul Harris' Head." The handsomest cyber-team on the inter webs.
Jesus man.
Call in the big guns. The Grammar Police can’t handle this one.
"No person can disobey reason, without giving up his claim to be a rational creature." - Swift
commas are your friend.
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
by Chris Groves on Feb 11, 2012 1:36 AM EST up reply actions
Anyone else think this guy would be a nice welcome to the UFC for Eddie? (Plus a bonkers fight to boot)
Don't follow in my footsteps I walk into walls
That fight is all wrong for Guida
Alvarez is nearly impossible to hold down and the stand-up would be a slaughter. And Alvarez’s gas tank is just as deep.
Alvarez showed a little quit with Chandler's pace wearing him down
It’s a close fight, in my mind.
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
by Charles Awad on Feb 10, 2012 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
Let's not pretend that Clay Guida is as good as Chandler
Chandler can actually produce offense.
by discoandherpes on Feb 11, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t think he would well. His wrestling isn’t top notch and he seems to get rocked a lot. And he just gave up during the Chandler fight.
Fuck you, double fingers
- Nick Diaz
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society
- Mark Twain
by TheLastEmpress on Feb 10, 2012 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
I disagree
And he just gave up during the Chandler fight.
He got hurt very badly a couple of times and eventually was just spent.
I wouldn’t call that giving up.
Just losing.
Learn JiuJitsu.
Semper Fi'
Cortez Kennedy is in the Hall Of Fame!!!!!!!! WE DID IT!
I wouldn't say he gave up
But I would say he showed a little quit/some fear. He looked to me as though he got pushed too hard and just couldn’t push back anymore. I don’t think he’s used to that sensation, so it buckled him. Happens to a lot of great fighters when they feel pressure they aren’t accustomed to.
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
by Charles Awad on Feb 10, 2012 7:58 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe
but to say he quit is a little too far for me.
Learn JiuJitsu.
Semper Fi'
Cortez Kennedy is in the Hall Of Fame!!!!!!!! WE DID IT!
"...just gave up"
Yeah, that description doesn’t tell the whole story.
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
by Charles Awad on Feb 10, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
"Gave up" makes you think he has no heart
when if anything that fight showed how much heart he has.
Most guys would be dead after the beating he took in that fight.
He got caught early in the 1st (IIRC) and lasted to…….the 4th I wanna say? (IIRC)
Learn JiuJitsu.
Semper Fi'
Cortez Kennedy is in the Hall Of Fame!!!!!!!! WE DID IT!
Yep
He ultimately gave in a little, I thought. I’m cautious with how I describe it, though, because it took awhile— but I would credit Chandler with breaking his will by the end. Sounds harsh, but he ultimately gave in. No shame in it.
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
by Charles Awad on Feb 10, 2012 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
I totally agree with you. I think he’s had so long where he hasn’t really been pushed when Chandler did, he just couldn’t live with him and sorta folded
StevenGiles is a huge MMA fan and also happens to be the best person in the world. He is also hugely pretentious and loves to have sigs that make a lame effort at exaggerating his own importance
by StevenGiles on Feb 11, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
Would love to see Eddie in the SF cage.
Alvarez vs Noons for number one contenders match.
by The Armchair Juggernaut on Feb 10, 2012 7:20 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Of course he's at an impasse
He’s way overvalued and now he’s not a champ and not worth the money to Bellator
by Ricardo Arguello on Feb 10, 2012 7:33 PM EST reply actions
No XFC live thread, huh?
I’m a little surprised by that. More accessible than ROC.
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
Its up. Roth is doing the pbp
Pat Barry made a wrestle - some schmuk in texas
I don't know more about MMA than you, I just act like it at HeadKickLegend
by Chris Hall on Feb 10, 2012 8:28 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
If I'm Zuffa,
I want Eddie in Strikeforce.
follow me on twitter @polyh3dron
I agree
Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!
by Charles Awad on Feb 10, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
Alvarez vs
Diaz, Guillard, Miller, PETTIS, would all be great fights. I kind of hope to see him against Melendez though.
Or how about Melendez vs Alvarez at UFC whatever number?
by Hart Thorson on Feb 10, 2012 8:35 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Wow...
From almost buying a state in Bellator to suddenly having a contract impasse with the company….this is some crazy shit!
I think I read this somewhere but doesn’t Alvarez train with Frankie Edgar?
I do everything in my life so my family will love me and my friends will respect me. Everyone else can do as they please
by jack knight starman on Feb 10, 2012 8:41 PM EST via mobile reply actions
His haircuit says he's from Jersey.
So, maybe.
"No person can disobey reason, without giving up his claim to be a rational creature." - Swift
I know they've trained together.
Don’t think they train together all the time though.
BECW season 2 member of the Intellegent Northern English Picking Team.
Draft number: 72.
by Sweet Scientist on Feb 10, 2012 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Alright Eddie - just take a nice long break until your contract is up
Then get your ass to Strikeforce!!! Re-upping with Bellator = MMA purgatory
Eddie
Would be a perfect signing for SF. Since they have no challengers at 155 for Melendez, it would be a good time to finally make that fight (albeit if Eddie can beat Aoki and not have his stock plummet even further with another loss)
Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz UFC 47
Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here
Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.
Sort of a technicality
Because they are merging the HW divisions.
Lavar Johnson was coming off of TWO losses heading into his UFC debut.
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
by Chris Groves on Feb 11, 2012 1:45 AM EST up reply actions
They sometimes do if they also sign the guy who beat him
by paythefighters on Feb 11, 2012 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
The UFC should sign him for 20 to show, 20 to win for one fight
And see if he can beat Jacob Volkmann.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on Feb 10, 2012 11:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Can ANY lightweight beat Jacob Volkmann?!!?!?!?!
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
by Chris Groves on Feb 11, 2012 1:46 AM EST up reply actions
It was a joke
I tried to go all hyperbole-ish…
"Junior Dos Santos is next." - Alistair Overeem
by Chris Groves on Feb 11, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Yes sooner or later I would like to see him in the UFC like I would all other top LW’s. If Zuffa can steal him away from Bellator the correct direction is for him to sign with Strike Force. It would be a nice size main event fight with Gil all made for you. It would make Gil happy and Eddie also fighitng what most fans feel is the 2nd or 3rd best LW. I would rather see him in the UFC then Bellator but hope if Zuffa signs him its for Strike Force.
I say if Eddie does end up taking the Aoki fight and beating him, that he waits out
for his contract to expire.
I mean, I understand being the champion why he would stay with the promotion. He was considered a top 5 LW by most, he had a belt to legitimize his claim as one of the best, he was one of the highest paid guys in the promotion…he was on a good win streak etc etc
But now, he isn’t the champ, he’s barely considered in the top 10 by most, if any…and he doesn’t really have anything going for him.
For most guys, being a high paid champion of even Bellator is a pretty cushy situation…but to be the ex-champ and to have to go through the tournie and etc likely doesn’t seem appealing.
So if I were him, I would try and get over to SF or the UFC…especially if he beats Aoki, he will have re-proven himself as a top fighter, and be coming off of a win and will be good to get the Zuffa promotional push.
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
you can’t wait it out. A contract is a two way street, with a number of fights in a set amount of time. The promoter has to give you the fights, and the fighter has to take them. If the promotion doesn’t offer you enough fights, like Jake Shields, you can walk when the time runs out. If you don’t take the fights, like a ton of people in the ufc, they just add time to your contract until you take them.
I really doubt Bellator will just let him sit out until the end. Long term contracts in this sport are silly. Long term contracts with anyone that isn’t Zuffa is extremely silly.
I really wonder if Zuffa would sign him to UFC.
Strikeforce, perhaps, since their roster is depleted. But UFC? It might be viewed as legitimizing Bellator, because Zuffa would be signing someone who’s not even the top ranked fighter in Bellator. If the guy who lost the belt was deemed “UFC quality,” it would make the guy who currently holds the belt look all that much better.
Melvin and I say: Please visit
http://danieljamesmillerfoundation.wordpress.com/how-to-donate/
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
