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As the Bellator-Eddie Alvarez lawsuits continue to move towards trial, where do you sit on the entire ordeal? Do you expect Eddie Alvarez to fight in the UFC when all is said and done?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I'm smack dab in the middle of the "Viacom is responsible for trying to ruin Eddie Alvarez' life" camp. I understand that Bjorn Rebney has about as much power as a 78 Datsun station wagon, and less stroke than Billy Squier, but he has to take a good chunk of the blame here. And it's not like Eddie Alvarez comes out of this whole thing smelling like a rose either. Nobody forced him to sign with Rebney in the first place. He signed for what was presumably bigger up front money, and didn't work hard enough to have all the onerous language taken out of the initial contract before signing on the dotted line.
I think Bjorn Rebney gave Eddie his word that if Eddie got a big offer from Zuffa that he (Eddie) would be free to go. I think he didn't clear that with the Big Giant Head at Viacom (whomever that might be), and the Big Giant Head told Rebney to stick it, and to stick it to Eddie while he was busy sticking it. And I think that had Zuffa offered Alvarez Hector Lombard money, that Alvarez would be one fight into his miuti-fight UFC contract as of this writing. If ever there was a case where everybody is either stoopid, incompetent, or evil, this would be the case.
C.J. TUTTLE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I, just like everyone else, want resolution. Both sides have come out publicly and said where they stand, now it must take place in a courtroom. Bjorn said he offered everything possible to reach an amicable conclusion, but Alvarez has declined. Eddie has said there won't be a settlement either. This is called a stalemate ladies and gentleman, and both sides need to bend to end this nasty situation. The big loser in all this is Alvarez and the time he is losing by not fighting. In the end, although both say this won't happen, there will be some sort of settlement and Alvarez will end up fighting in the UFC. Dana is asked constantly about Alvarez and he always expresses interest, so I think it's only a matter of time till he ends up in the Octagon.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
It's hard not to be on Team Alvarez here. I do expect him to be in the UFC when it's all said and done, but this just needs to get settled so that Alvarez can concentrate on fighting.
TONY BECERRA, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Unfortunately I see this dragging on through the court system for a while. According to Alvarez, it sounds like Bjorn has little to do with the hold up and it's Viacom who is making this ordeal drag. There are things happening behind the curtains that the fans don't see but it doesn't sit well with me whenever you are preventing someone from making a living to provide for their family. I do eventually see Alvarez in the UFC but not anytime soon.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I will say this, from a standpoint of goon status, Bjorn Rebney and Bellator look like a bunch of jerks; it shouldn't have gotten to this point in the first place, and their counter offer to the UFC's is a heaping steaming pile of donkey excrement. They can't LEGITIMATELY match the earnings that would be afforded to Eddie in UFC, mainly the PPV earnings, since Bellator never has and at this point doesn't appear that they ever will (in the near future) run one. So I think Eddie should be allowed into the UFC and Bellator should cut their losses before they start to make themselves look like a company that won't let fighters go. I've actually heard conversations between professional fighters speaking about trying to get to the UFC while avoiding Bellator at all costs since this whole situation came about.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think that a fighter should be able to fight wherever he or she wants. I do not know enough about the case to make a very informed comment other than it seems like the UFC can offer the PPV money to fighters and Bellator cannot. From what I have read it seems like the deal offered from Bellator is very different from the deal offered by the UFC. I do think that Alvarez will eventually end up in the UFC and he will eventually fight for a title.
CAMERON LYMAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
If your girlfriend told you she no longer wanted to be with you and told you why, you could do one of two things: 1) Accept it and move on. Or 2) Try your hardest to prove that you can give her everything she needs. Well, unfortunately for Mr. Alvarez, he signed a contract that included the much publicized matching clause. I can understand why Bjorn and Co. would want to keep him around, but if he doesn't want to be there and everyone knows it, it gives his presence in the organization a black eye. As it stands, there are only losers in this situation. I don't believe that Bellator can truly match the exposure that the UFC can offer and I am fairly confident we will see him in the UFC. It's too bad that Alvarez has to remain inactive as his UFC debut could be marred by rust and jitters.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST
I understand why Bjorn Rebney and Bellator are playing hard ball; but what I don't understand is why they didn't just pay Eddie Alvarez the money he deserved. They have major financial backing from Viacom and for the sake of a few thousand dollars, they've ended up looking like the bad guys. Everyone always ends up feeling sorry for the little guy going up against a corporation, and support for Alvarez is only going to grow.
No one wants to lose one of their leading lights to a big rival, but if they want to keep Alvarez, they should at least match what the UFC offered. Theoretically they should be offering him extra money based on the fact the UFC can offer a lot more in terms of competition and exposure. Neither side is going to back down at this advanced stage now and it's just going to end in tears for Bellator. I expect to see Alvarez confirmed as a UFC fighter, shortly after he wins this upcoming unnecessary court case.
[Eddie Alvarez photo (c) MMATorch.com]
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