At UFC 188:Velasquez vs. Werdum, a long awaited lightweight fight will take place as the former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez will take on former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez.
The fight is one that fans have been clamoring for since Melendez was close to signing with Bellator in early 2014. Michael Chandler, who split a pair of fights with Alvarez for the Bellator Lightweight Championship, is looking forward to the fight finally taking place.
“It’s a fight that they were trying to make years ago, so I know everyone’s excited to see it,” Chandler told Last Word on Sports.
When it comes to a prediction for the fight, Chandler sides with the man who he’s gotten to know very well in the cage.
“I think Eddie has the edge. Gilbert fights hard, but Eddie can fight hard as well, and I think is more skilled. I’m pulling for Eddie cause I think he’s the better fighter,” Chandler says.
Alvarez was the inaugural Bellator Lightweight Champion and held the championship for more than two years. Chandler took the title from Alvarez at Bellator 58 in what had been called a strong candidate for Fight of the Year in 2011.
Alvarez avenged his only Bellator loss when he won a razor close split decision against Alvarez in 2013, a win that would see him reclaim his title before leaving the organization for the UFC.
One might say that Chandler could have a certain bias in hoping that Alvarez defeats a top UFC lightweight in Melendez. A dominant win would look good on Chandler as he has proven that he can stand toe-to-toe against Alvarez, who would then become a UFC lightweight contender.
“Hmm..that’s an interesting way to look at it,” Chandler says, “I have a lot of respect for Eddie, competing against him twice and having some wars with him. I wish the best for him and we’ll see what happens.”
Chandler will also be looking to move up the lightweight rankings to a title shot when he faces Derek Campos at Bellator 138 on July 19th. The card is headlined by Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice.
