Does Bellator Lightweight Champ Eddie Alvarez Have A Point To Prove Tonight Against Josh Neer?
by Kelvin Hunt on May 6, 2010 3:01 PM EDT
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Steve Cofield makes the case over at Cagewriter, bascially citing that most of Alvarez's success occured over in Japan where Alvarez lost to Shinya Aoki in 2008. Of course, Aoki got dominated by MMA For Real's #10 lightweight(his ranking at the time) Gilbert Melendez last month. So does Alvarez need a strong performance to hold onto his top 5 spot in the rankings tonight?
So what did the lackluster performance by Aoki say about fighting in Japan? You shouldn't judge the entire product by one fight but the Aoki flop didn't speak well for DREAM and Sengoku.
American Eddie Alvarez is another guy who's built most of his reputation on what he's done in Japan. So where do we go if Alvarez can't get by UFC castoff Josh Neer? Neer (27-9, 4-6 UFC) and Alvarez (19-2) hook up at 160 pounds tonight at Bellator 17. Neer's UFC losses (Gleison Tibau, Nate Diaz, Kurt Pellegrino, Nick Diaz, Josh Burkman, Drew Fickett) are from embarrassing but he's been a guy who just can't turn the corner. Alvarez should handle him easily, correct?
What say you peoples? Also, make sure to join us tonight for the Bellator 17 open thread and discussion. It'll be posted in a bit.
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I'm pretty interested about this fight to.
Neer is a tough mother and I don’t know shit about Alvarez
Bellator better be hoping that Alvarez wins
Neer does have a shot at winning. The label for this fight is just horrible. How super is something where there is nothing on the line? Plus this BS of having two 155 guys fighting at 160 to cover your promotions ass in case your champ loses is lame.
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
They have to do it that way, I thought it was pretty cool.
Your champ gets to stay active without loosing the belt which would defeat the purpose of the tournament. And if nothing better comes along for the Dentist then I bet he gets a spot in next season’s tourney
by doonerthesooner on May 6, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
So then whats
“Super” about it? A champ should have to defend his belt, not fight a guy that in his same weight class at a catch weight so he doesn’t have to defend it.
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
I agree with Felix
Anytime a ‘champ’ fights without the belt on the line=WACK.
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Kelvin
I made a similiar point on MMA Mania a few minutes again. You are right on point with your assessment of this fight. Alverez has nothing to gain and everything to lose here. Moreover, I think this could be a bigger blow to Japanese MMA then even to Eddie. It may not be fair, but, Neer was beaten by guys that Eddie should be able to beat. Bellator and Bjorn Rebney could also lose big tonight. Bjorn is trying to position Eddie for a megafight with Huerta later this year, early next year. A lose would all but crush that plan, and it’s not as if Neer is gonna be able to carry to show. No offense to Josh, but, he isnt the type of personna a fight org is gonna build there future around. I see Bellator, potentially in a similiar position to Strikeforce. Long term plans crushed in one fight. I honestly think Eddie wins this fight. Part of me wants to see what happens to Bellator if he loses.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
I respect it personally,
Alvarez is taking on legit competition, just to stay fresh and it’s not at lightweight so the belt doesn’t need to be on the line. I really like the move it says a lot about Alvarez that he is willing to take this fight, I know he’s beaten better guys than Neer but he could just hold onto the belt until Roger Huerta wins the tourney, if he wanted it’s not like he’s not going to defend his belt ( Overreem, cough) he just needs a fight to stay fresh for his first defense and it’s a fight he could loose not some can like they could have fed him he’s taking on legit comp like I said.
by doonerthesooner on May 6, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
oh
I’m not knocking Alvarez….just the whole champ not defending his title..which is more Bellator protecting themselves than anything.
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I understand the motive
UFC did the same thing when Andy fought Forrest, that was billed as a Superfight
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
And it seemed live everyone
but Dana knew it wasn’t going to be super. Plus they were legitimately from different weight classes.
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
the bad about bellator
if you have a belt why not defined it if you got a tournament the champ needs to be in it as the number 1 seed i love bellator but hate this part of if they dont need to have a champ holding on to belts just do the tournament and the winner is that season winner (champ) and number 1 Seed for the next season and has a bye first round the. what they are doing is not fare to those fighter that had to fight 5 fights with a what 30 to 60 day rest and fight a champ that most likely only got one fight that year may be they will change it down the line i hope thank you for being a part of the action with MMA Fight Force
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