Eddie Alvarez loses title to Michael Chandler in FOTY candidate
In a shocking upset to end a sensational fight, Michael Chandler submitted Eddie Alvarez with a fourth-round rear-naked choke, winning…
In a shocking upset to end a sensational fight, Michael Chandler submitted Eddie Alvarez with a fourth-round rear-naked choke, winning the Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight title.
Chandler was largely unknown when he entered this year’s Bellator lightweight tournament, but everyone who follows MMA needs to know his name now. With the victory he improved to 9-0 in his pro career, and he looked amazing doing it. Chandler is for real.
Fight description
Chandler started swinging from the first second of the fight, wobbling Alvarez against the fence in the first 30 seconds. Though Alvarez survived, Chandler took the first two rounds by landing combination after combination.
Alvarez recovered in the third round. He pinned Chandler against the fence with unanswered punches several times.
In the fourth round, Chandler took over. He knocked Alvarez to the ground, followed up with ground and pound, moved to full mount, then took Alvarez’s back in a rear-naked choke. Alvarez tapped at 3:06 in the fourth.