Michael Chandler, 32, and Eddie Alvarez, 34, split two tremendous fights. Chandler won the first via choke at Bellator 58 in 2011, and lost the rematch via Split Decision in 2013. Both fighters are in free agency and a promotion that signs both is going to get a MONSTER trilogy fight. However, in a sign of the respect created by epic fights like the ones the two shared, Chandler says he wants Alvarez to go where he makes the most money.

There’s not a guy that I respect in this sport more than Eddie Alvarez, said Chandler to Mike Bohn and John Morgan for MMAjunkie. When you share 50 minutes inside a cage – I’ve got a scar on my lip that he gave me, I’ve got another scar on my eyebrow that he gave me. I could look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘That’s from that guy, that’s from that guy.’ Eddie put it on me here and there. Being 1-1, me finishing him the first fight, him beating me in the second fight; Eddie’s just a warrior. He’s been Bellator champion, he’s been UFC champion. He’s been champion in every major organization in the entire world.

I have a ton of respect for him as a fighter, and I just want to see the best for him. If that means staying with the UFC, I hope he stays in the UFC. If that means coming to Bellator, I would love to welcome him to Bellator and finish that trilogy. There’s not a day that’s gone by recently since he announced that this last fight was the last fight on his contract, that people haven’t stopped talking about the trilogy.”

I got a ton of respect for the guy. He fights for the right reasons, he fights like a dog and I’d love to share the cage with him again.