Bellator releases Eddie Alvarez

Lightweight mixed martial artist Eddie Alvarez is officially a free agent.

Bellator MMA president Scott Coker has confirmed to ESPN.com the promotion granted Alvarez, 30, his unconditional release early Tuesday morning.

Alvarez (25-3) vacates the promotion's 155-pound title, which he won in a split decision victory against Michael Chandler at Bellator 106 in November. The company has no future matching rights on Alvarez, according to Coker.

"We granted Eddie his unconditional release this morning," Coker told ESPN.com. "Eddie is free to explore the free agent market. We wish him the best in the future."

Coker, former CEO of Strikeforce, said he met with Alvarez and his manager Glenn Robinson in Miami shortly after replacing former Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney at the head of the company in June.

At that time, Coker said it was clear Alvarez did not consider Bellator his long-term home.

"After sitting down with him and getting to know him, it was just a very hurtful situation for him," Coker said. "I think the damage was already done. It became clear there was a wall there and it was not directed at me.

"They just made it clear the damage was done."

Alvarez, who appeared in the inaugural Bellator event in April 2009 and won the title later that year, provided the following statement to ESPN.com via text message.

"This was a long process but it's a decision that everyone seems happy with," Alvarez said. "I think it's important to say that I am genuinely thankful for the time at Bellator. I know that sounds a little crazy given everything I went through, but I've fought there since 2009 and have been involved in some really amazing fights.

"The staff there always treated me great and I'm going to miss seeing a lot of those familiar faces around for sure. Myself and my team had some really good discussions with Scott, but in my heart I knew I was ready to move on and start the next chapter of my career."

The announcement effectively ends a near two-year saga between Alvarez and the promotion, which began in late 2012 when Alvarez fielded a multi-fight offer from the UFC after Bellator waived its 90-day exclusive negotiating period.

Rebney moved to exercise the promotion's right to match the UFC offer. Alvarez and his legal team argued, however, the Bellator offer was not the same. The two sides eventually filed countersuits against each other.

In August 2013, a settlement was reached that included two fights from Alvarez under the Bellator banner and then his unconditional release. Three months after the settlement, Alvarez defeated Chandler for the lightweight title.

He was scheduled to appear in a title bout against Chandler at a Bellator pay-per-view event in May, but withdrew due to a late concussion suffered in training. Chandler (12-2) went on to fight Will Brooks for an interim title and lost via split decision.

Coker said he had not discussed Alvarez' departure with either Chandler or Brooks (14-1) as of Tuesday morning but believed that fight would happen next, "maybe in November." He did not know if Brooks would be promoted to undisputed champion.

Alvarez has since recovered from the concussion and told ESPN.com he has resumed training and is "one thousand percent."

Alvarez better be headed for shitty fight pass cards with a smile on   I actually do wish him good luck on being a star over there because he'll need it in that over saturated division. Smart move business-wise for Bellator to let him go.

Or what would be awesome to see would be if he ended up in ONE FC he'd fit good in their division. I'm just assuming he's youeffsee bound given all the history

Great job scott coker!!! oh wow Bella force is gonna take over yay

Stu your just dumb....

It's been obvious bjorns regime destroyed any chance of him staying long ago.

Coker has the balls and the presence of mind to do what should have been done a while bak...

Good luck Eddie but good riddance IMO

stu3ufc wrote:

Great job scott coker!!! oh wow Bella force is gonna take over yay

Yo Stu you gotta stop spam posting the same shit in every thread it's de-railing to a degree. We're getting annoyed in HQ  

       

I think he will do some damage in UFC.

Seriously tho ^^^

Its one thing if he presents some sort of argument.....but it's just the same derogatory statements.....

And once confronted about these posts your met with no facts or any real intelligent response....just insult

Eddie can beat a lot of the guys but top 10 im not so convinced.

He makes fir entertaining fights either way.

Hope best for him but I just kno he's not champ material for sure.

I really wanna see Eddie vs Gilbert Melendez

Benson Henderson,cowboy,nurmagomedov,or nate Diaz.

^Eddie vs. Gil, Benson, or any of those fights would be great and if he wins he fights Pettis for the belt. He should get a number 1 contender fight right off the bat.

I post what I want. Bellator sucks. release eddie sign cans. Coker is a cancer. Bjorn was the fucking man!

@FKA where have i resorted to insults?

just my opinion and you have to respond every time. if you didnt care you would ignore it.

I don't see where this talk of Eddie not being Championship material even originated from. This guy has seen it all.

I like Alvarez his style us fun and he is high level....

I just also see his striking leaves a lot of holes for tds and counters.

He can beat a lot if guys I just don't see him making it to the belt unless granted an instant shot.

But ill watch intently to see what happens.....

wekka wrote:I don't see where this talk of Eddie not being Championship material even originated from. This guy has seen it all.

He lost to chandler twice imo. bloody gift decision! UFC LW division is fucking stacked!

fka wrote:Seriously tho ^^^

Its one thing if he presents some sort of argument.....but it's just the same derogatory statements.....

Look in the mirror

Pot calling the kettle black

You over and over post garbage about Bellator during the Bjorn era. Making things up and doing revisionist history about his time running the company.

Untrue I supported bjorn while there but crucifying an entire company because u dislike a public figure gets old.

When I post atleast I have an argument not blah blah f bellator mma is dead ...

fka wrote:Untrue I supported bjorn while there but crucifying an entire company because u dislike a public figure gets old.

When I post atleast I have an argument not blah blah f bellator mma is dead ...

Da nile, it's not just a river in Egypt

Lmao I don't feel it necessary to defend my stance on bellator ......

I was a strong supporter of bjorn but I'm a realist I also can admit flaws in his vision.

Peretti I don't think you were even around then so I could care less about your thoughts ,if anyone's revising history its you.

I've been one of the biggest pro bellator Guy around I'm pretty sure I'm one of the few who even watched and hyped fight master.

To compare my posts to stu3 sad sak Is ridiculous....

Look at any of my hundreds of posts about bellator from its inception to bjorn selling out.

I've always supported it from day one and will continue to do so and will call out any questionable activity like I always have.

I don't sugarcoat BS like a lot of people I call it like I see it,I'm not concerned with how many people agree or approve of my comments I'm concerned with speaking what I consider to be the truth.

Like I said peretti you weren't here the entire time I've been defending and hyping bjorns bellator so for you to basically say Im kicking dirt on bjorn is dumb.