It looks like Eddie Alvarez is getting closer to joining the UFC after Bellator MMA granted the lightweight champion his unconditional release Tuesday morning.
Bellator MMA president Scott Coker confirmed the news to ESPN. Alvarez will vacate the promotion's 155-pound title and the company will not retain future matching rights.
Coker, the former CEO of Strikeforce, met with Alvarez and his manager Glenn Robinson shortly after replacing former Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney at the head of the company in June. At that meeting, Coker said it was apparent that Alvarez did not see his future in Bellator.
"After sitting down with him and getting to know him, it was just a very hurtful situation for him," Coker told ESPN. "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 competed in Bellator's inaugural event in April 2009 and won the lightweight title later that year. After losing the belt to Michael Chandler in 2011, he reclaimed the championship this past November with a split decision win. Both bouts with Chandler were fight of the year candidates and the two were expected to complete their trilogy in May, but Alvarez had to pull out of the fight due to a late concussion suffered in training.
"I think it's important to say that I am genuinely thankful for the time at Bellator," Alvarez told ESPN via text message. "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. 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 UFC first tried to acquire Alvarez in early 2013, Bjorn Rebney executed his right to match and what followed was a public legal battle, one that kept the talented lightweight out of the cage for over a year. The two sides reached a settlement in August 2013 and Alvarez won the title three months later.
Last month, Sherdog.com reported that the UFC was looking to schedule a fight between Alvarez and Donald Cerrone for UFC 178 in September but Alvarez was still under contract with Bellator. Now that Alvarez is a free agent, anything is possible.
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