Bellator
Bellator targeting Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki rematch for 2012 event
Aug 24, 2011 - 12:20:17 PM Bellator targeting Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki rematch for 2012 event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

A big lightweight rematch may be coming to the Bellator cage in 2012, as Sherdog.com reports that Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki are close to signing on for a fight against one another.

The two met for the now defunct WAMMA Lightweight Championship in Japan on New Year's Eve in 2008, with Aoki handing Alvarez just his second career loss with a heel hook submission a minute and a half into the fight.

Alvarez then moved to Bellator, where he won the first ever Lightweight Title for the organization in the season one tournament. After those three wins, he won two non-title fights in Bellator, along with another win in Japan in DREAM, before successfully making his first title defense against Pat Curran.

Since defeating Alvarez, Aokihas gone 9-2 in MMA competition (with another knockout loss in a mixed rules fight to go along with it). His losses came to Hayato "Mach" Sakurai at welterweight in DREAM, and to Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce in a five round title fight. Since that loss to Melendez, Aoki has put together five straight wins, four of which have come by submission, and the most recent coming against Rich Clementi at DREAM's "Fight for Japan" event in May.

Before the two square off next year, however, they have business to take care of in each of their respective organizations. Alvarez defends his title for the second time against season four lightweight tournament winner Michael Chandler on October 15 at Bellator 54, while Aoki has a fight scheduled against former WEC Lightweight Champion "Razor" Rob McCullough at DREAM 17 in September.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: This would be a huge fight for Bellator, especially if they get moved over to Spike TV when the UFC leaves at the end of the year. The loss to Aoki is the most glaring mark against Alvarez on his record, and his level of competition hasn't been up to par with his contemporaries in Gilbert Melendez and the top end of the UFC's lightweight roster; because of that, this fight could give him a chance to get the biggest win of his career, and keep himself in the conversation at the top end of the division as well. This is an awesome matchup regardless of where it takes place, though, and I'll be very excited to see the rematch.

[Eddie Alvarez photo (c) Henry S. Dziekan III]