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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
When Eddie Alvarez's contract ran up with Bellator this past fall, it seemed like a nearly foregone conclusion that he would sign with the UFC. However, UFC President Dana White said recently that the situation was going to "get ugly," but without any further clarification as to why.
Well, it looks like that why is Bellator, who, according to a report from MMAJunkie.com, have issued a contract offer of their own to Alvarez, an attempt to match what was offered by the UFC.
Per the report, the holdup is a legal review of both offers, with Alvarez seeking clarification on certain language in each deal before making a decision.
Alvarez was the second Bellator fighter the UFC went after in 2012, following their signing of Hector Lombard in May. Bellator could not match the offer the UFC presented to Lombard, but with Viacom's backing, and with Alvarez's history with the organization, they've decided to make an attempt at keeping him.
Penick's Analysis: I understand Bellator wanting to hold on to Alvarez, and I also understand Alvarez's loyalty and affinity to the organization. That said, it would be disappointing if Alvarez doesn't come over to the UFC. While there are a handful of exciting opponents for Alvarez on the Bellator roster, there are that many and more in the UFC. Fans have wanted to see how he stacks up against the UFC's best for years, and he's now got the contract offered to him, but Bellator may stop it from coming to fruition. That could certainly lead to things getting ugly in public from Dana White if Alvarez re-signs with Bellator. This saga is not over yet.
[Eddie Alvarez photo (c) Henry Dziekan III]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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