Bellator Matches Alvarez UFC Contract
UFC has been courting Eddie Alvarez but, according to
reports, that might just have gotten harder. Multiple reports say that Bellator
has matched the contract that UFC offered Alvarez. The former Bellator champion
said on his Twitter feed that the contract matching provisions weren't quite
the same, but Bejorn Rebney, CEO of Bellator, said that they matched it point
by point on an interview with MMAWeekley radio.
Rebney said that Alvarez had the right to go out and get an
contract offer from UFC, but that Bellator had the right to match that contract,
as well. He referenced Hector Lombard who went over to UFC from Bellator.
Rebney said that, after they're presented with the offer that UFC gave, they
have the option to match that contract exactly. If they elect not to match that
contract, the fighter goes over to the UFC or whoever else is offering the
contract. If Bellator chooses, however, they match the contract, which they did
in Alvarez's case. The contract was sent to him signed, requiring only that he
sign the contract and send it back.
According to the interview, Bellator does want to hang onto
Alvarez. The promotion will be appearing on Spike TV this year and they wanted
Alvarez to be part of the promotion. The decision now rests with Alvarez as to
whether he wants to move to the UFC or if he wants to stay with Bellator.
According to what Rebney said in the interview, the contracts match in every
regard, including the amount of money the fighter stands to make when he steps
into the cage. Bellator was considering putting Alvarez up against Michael
Chandler, who took Alvarez's lightweight title in 2011, when he was fighting as
a lightweight. Alvarez did say that he would be willing to fight for Bellator
but that he wanted to make sure that he was getting a fair deal.
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