As you have all seen in recent weeks, the progression of the status of Eddie Alvarez from Bellator Fighting Championships continues to make headlines.
The UFC is obviously interested in picking up another top level contender to join their ranks, seeing as how Alvarez is still one of the most recognized names on Bellator’s roster. It would be a great acquisition indeed. But with no offense to Alvarez, haven’t we heard this before?
Let’s start with Jake Shields, the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Shields had beaten the who’s who of the Strikeforce roster, including a win over the likes of Robbie Lawler, Jason Miller and former Pride Champion Dan Henderson. The latter fight earned him a chance to join the UFC ranks where he was met with a stiff challenge in Martin Kampmann, at his old weight of 170 lbs. After three hard fought rounds, I and half the people watching the fight had Kampmann edging out a split decision against the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. As you all may know, Shields ended up taking the split decision and earned a shot against GSP for the UFC Welterweight title. Shields ended up losing a 5 round decision, losing 4 rounds to 1 on one of the judge’s scorecards. Since that fight at UFC 129, Shields has amassed a 1-1 record, with 1 NC. Not exactly the fireworks we were expecting from him.
Next on the list is Nick Diaz, the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. Starting in 2009, Diaz ripped through his opposition including stoppage wins over Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith, Marius Zaromskis (In which he won the Strikeforce Welterweight Title), Evangelista Santos, and Paul Daley. Diaz was finally welcomed back to the UFC where he was granted an immediate title shot against GSP. Well after 2 no-shows to press conferences, Diaz was stripped of his title shot and instead given a fight against former lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn, who was coming of a draw with Jon Fitch. Diaz battered Penn and took a unanimous decision victory to set up his next fight. Diaz then met Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February 2012 to determine who would get the next shot at GSP, who had been sidelined with an injury that has kept him off the shelf until just a few weeks from now. Condit executed a well-developed gameplan and was able to win a unanimous decision victory and become the UFC interim welterweight champion. After that Diaz failed a drug test and is suspended till February 2013.
Last but not least, we have Hector Lombard. While we all found out that Lombard fought injured, it was still another letdown for such a big acquisition from another company. Lombard was on a 24-0 run with 1 NC. He was Bellator’s first middleweight champion. Lombard looked completely unstoppable. Finally after years of waiting, he was welcomed into the UFC, and Tim Boetsch was selected as his octagon debut. After 3 rounds, Boetsch was awarded a split decision victory. It was certainly not the fireworks we had come to know from Lombard. In this instance, he was not entirely at fault but still another promotion champion fell to the UFC acquisition curse.
I hope that this time it is different. I hope that Alvarez will be able to show the UFC brass and the world that if they choose to sign him, he will not disappoint. Maybe Bellator will retain their inaugural lightweight champ and keep him in their ranks. Only time will tell.
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The UFC is obviously interested in picking up another top level contender to join their ranks, seeing as how Alvarez is still one of the most recognized names on Bellator’s roster. It would be a great acquisition indeed. But with no offense to Alvarez, haven’t we heard this before?
Let’s start with Jake Shields, the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Shields had beaten the who’s who of the Strikeforce roster, including a win over the likes of Robbie Lawler, Jason Miller and former Pride Champion Dan Henderson. The latter fight earned him a chance to join the UFC ranks where he was met with a stiff challenge in Martin Kampmann, at his old weight of 170 lbs. After three hard fought rounds, I and half the people watching the fight had Kampmann edging out a split decision against the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. As you all may know, Shields ended up taking the split decision and earned a shot against GSP for the UFC Welterweight title. Shields ended up losing a 5 round decision, losing 4 rounds to 1 on one of the judge’s scorecards. Since that fight at UFC 129, Shields has amassed a 1-1 record, with 1 NC. Not exactly the fireworks we were expecting from him.
Next on the list is Nick Diaz, the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. Starting in 2009, Diaz ripped through his opposition including stoppage wins over Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith, Marius Zaromskis (In which he won the Strikeforce Welterweight Title), Evangelista Santos, and Paul Daley. Diaz was finally welcomed back to the UFC where he was granted an immediate title shot against GSP. Well after 2 no-shows to press conferences, Diaz was stripped of his title shot and instead given a fight against former lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn, who was coming of a draw with Jon Fitch. Diaz battered Penn and took a unanimous decision victory to set up his next fight. Diaz then met Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February 2012 to determine who would get the next shot at GSP, who had been sidelined with an injury that has kept him off the shelf until just a few weeks from now. Condit executed a well-developed gameplan and was able to win a unanimous decision victory and become the UFC interim welterweight champion. After that Diaz failed a drug test and is suspended till February 2013.
Last but not least, we have Hector Lombard. While we all found out that Lombard fought injured, it was still another letdown for such a big acquisition from another company. Lombard was on a 24-0 run with 1 NC. He was Bellator’s first middleweight champion. Lombard looked completely unstoppable. Finally after years of waiting, he was welcomed into the UFC, and Tim Boetsch was selected as his octagon debut. After 3 rounds, Boetsch was awarded a split decision victory. It was certainly not the fireworks we had come to know from Lombard. In this instance, he was not entirely at fault but still another promotion champion fell to the UFC acquisition curse.
I hope that this time it is different. I hope that Alvarez will be able to show the UFC brass and the world that if they choose to sign him, he will not disappoint. Maybe Bellator will retain their inaugural lightweight champ and keep him in their ranks. Only time will tell.
Post Shared BY Ultimate MMA Magazine
