Michael Chandler-Eddie Alvarez 'Unfinished Business' recap
![Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMmM5OWZlZjAtNjlhYi00%3AZjAtNjlhYi00MWZkZDY0%2Fmichael-chandler.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler. Credit: Bellator
Almost two years to the day since Michael Chandler took Eddie Alvarez's Bellator lightweight title, the rematch headlines Bellator 106.
Of course, that Nov. 2 card was supposed to be headlined by Tito Ortiz vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, but Ortiz pulled out with a neck injury last week.
Spike TV aired a half-hour special hyping Chandler vs. Alvarez II last night. Here are my in-the-moment thoughts on the "Unfinished Business" program:
— Bjorn Rebney called Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez “the best mixed martial arts fight I’ve ever seen.” It was a fantastic fight, no doubt, but it may not have been the best fight of that night. Remember Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan Henderson at UFC 139?
— Ah, and there’s Dan Henderson talking about the Chandler-Alvarez fight.
— Nice to see UFC fighters included in this Bellator documentary. This isn’t about playing the two against each other. But, rather, it adds perceived balance to the project. Even if they are just training partners/teammates of Alvarez or Chandler, it's a good touch editorially.
— Oooh, a referee sound bite. Nice!
— Chandler and Alvarez appear to be giving very honest insight into their first fight as they watch it (separately, of course).
— Chandler: “The decision to be defeated was made before then.”
— Alvarez, um, didn’t take too kindly to that quote from Chandler.
— Waiting for the third segment, can’t help to wonder what Bellator 106 could have done for the company if the event remained on pay-per-view with Tito vs. Rampage as well. Good or bad, it would have been interesting.
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