By Monta Wiley
Regarded as one of the best lightweights in the world, there is no debate that Eddie Alvarez could be considered as one of the best of his time. Starting his career in 2003, he made his rise to superstardom moving up the ranks with impressive wins against formidable opponents in various organizations eventually obtaining his first major championship as the Bellator Lightweight Champion in 2009 with a impressive victory over submission ace Toby Imada.
With an extreme lust for competition combined with his well rounded skills and desire to be the best his rise to the top eventually gained him the distinct honor of being ranked # 3 amongst the top lightweights in the world from 2009 through 2010. However as time progressed and the pinnacle of success sunk in, his lack of searching for competitive outlets and inconsistently competing caused him to drop considerably in the ranking. These flaws would also cause him to lose his belt in the process.
In what many considered the Fight of the Year on November 19 2011, Eddie Alvarez put his Bellator Lightweight title on the line against former Division 1 Wrestler Michael Chandler. In an epic encounter which saw both fighters displaying incredible heart and skills, it was Michael Chandler coming out on top submitting Alvarez in the fourth round ending the two year title reign of the champion causing Eddie to be booted off the top 10 lightweight rankings.
Although this loss is a serious blow to the former champion it should serve as a wake up call to help Eddie not only strive to become a better fighter but also open up the door to explore new options in hopes of reclaiming his throne as one of the best fighters around.
Eddie Alvarez first alternative would be making his ascent back up the Bellator ladder to obtain a rematch against Michael Chandler for the belt. In recent interviews leading up to the fight Michael Chandler has always been very vocal about how hungry and determined he was to win the title. This thrust for success eventually landed him the belt, while in the case of Eddie it was just another title defense that he may not have taken seriously. Now that Eddie is back in a position where he is forced to work toward a goal, the title loss can motivate him to be more serious about the competition in Bellator.
Another option many people would love to see is for him to venture to new territory in the form of going to Strikeforce or the UFC. Many fans have felt that Eddie was a big fish in a small pond at Bellator and with the exception of his fight with Shinya Aoki back in 2008 he has never faced any top notch competition in his career. By going to either of these well established companies this will be the perfect opportunity to revolutionize his career and test his skills against some of the best in the world from the likes of fighters like Gray Maynard, Nick Diaz, Ben Henderson, amongst other talented opposition.
“It is said the greatest stories must not be written, instead they must be lived.” Every great fighter in this sport has had set backs and has found a way to refine their careers coming back better and stronger. When looking at this situation, the big question is How will Eddie Alvarez learn from this setback and what steps will he take toward cementing his legacy and being remember as one of the best in the game.
