Michael Chandler upsets Eddie Alvarez to win Bellator Lightweight title at Bellator 58 – MMA Recap
Michael Chandler, the 25-year old mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from America has been on roll in his MMA career. He competed at Bellator 58, an event promoted by the Bellator Fighting Championships, often referred only as Bellator.
Chandler took part in the event on Saturday, November 19, 2011.
The bout was for the Bellator Lightweight Championship and his opponent in the fight was compatriot and Bellator Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez. It was a match that created much ripples in the MMA division especially in the
Bellator community. Chandler had been undefeated in his MMA career with eight consecutive wins and his prospects looked good in the MMA. On the other hand, Alvarez did lost three matches but he had won twenty-two matches in his career, which made him more
experienced and lethal than Chandler.
The lightweight bout event at Bellator was a day in the life of both fighters when they were not willing to bow down at any cost. With impressive past performances, it was expected to be a slugfest that would enthrall the MMA fans
worldwide. Both fighters, who still have to make their Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut, were hopeful to secure a win at Bellator 58, which was for the coveted lightweight championship.
Alvarez, the defending champion, won the title at Bellator 12 in June 2009 when he defeated American MMA fighter Toby Imada in the second round. For Alvarez, who had already won twenty-two matches, the fight against Chandler should
have been a stroll in the park. Keeping in mind the championship status of Alvarez, he could have defeated his opponent, most probably through a knockout, but at Bellator 58 things went against Alvarez.
Chandler, the challenger for the Bellator Lightweight Championship, was in the mood to win the fight at the earliest. He used his punches the moment the clock started ticking. Within forty seconds of the fight, Alvarez was pinned
against the steel cage as Chandler kept going with his offensive maneuvers. Alvarez was defending himself and in the meantime he was also making his offensive strategy, it was Chandler who kept the pressure on Alvarez. The challenger was moving on with his
rhythm as he gave some serious blows to the champion. In the second and third rounds, both fighters were equally competitive. Alvarez was looking to recover from the beating he got in the first round. Alvarez did manage to reply with his punches but could
not put Chandler out.
In the fourth round, however, Chandler was successful in overpowering the champion. In what was considered to be an impossible sight, the lightweight champion was on the ground as Chandler gave some heavy left and right punches.
The moment Chandler saw the opportunity as he locked his submission move, the rear naked choke, on to Alvarez, who could not do anything but tap out. Bellator 58 became the momentous event in the career of Chandler when he defeated Alvarez for the Bellator
Lightweight Championship.
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