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[trustkill]

Link to full article: Report: Alvarez close to signing with UFC - Fighters Only

Eddie Alvarez is very close to signing a UFC deal, it has been reported.

The former Bellator FC lightweight champion recently saw his contract with Bellator expire and there has been contact with the UFC regarding a potential move. According to Middle Easy, the signing will be announced as little as a week from now.

Fighters Only reported Alvarez’s move to the UFC being likely earlier this year, even before his contract with Bellator was expired.

On February 10 we noted that he had one fight left on his deal with Bellator FC and was in negotiations on a new deal, but that the sides were “miles apart on the value of a new contract.”

Our source said that the tone had “soured” between Alvarez and Bellator and that “a resolution now seems all but impossible, with the respective parties adamant that they cannot move from their stated positions.”

Alvarez went on to have his final fight, a rematch with Shinya Aoki which he won in devastating fashion last month. Immediately after the win he called on Bellator FC president Bjorn Rebney to “show me the money” but his plea appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

Things might have been different had Alvarez still been the lightweight champion but he lost the belt to Michael Chandler in late 2011 in what was a Fight of the Year contender. Regardless, Rebney plays things very tight financially and he has shown in the past he will not be drawn into bidding wars or take risks with his capital.

A case in point is Hector Lombard, who has been lured away from his Bellator FC middleweight title by the offer of UFC money. While Bellator may have been able to match the money the UFC offered Lombard, the value of Lombard remaining may not have matched the cost and so Rebney let him go.

[The Sword]

I wonder how well he will do if he Signs. Hes a great fighter and all but it just seems more times than not when their is a lot of Hype about a fighter coming to the UFC they don't do all that well. Thoughts??

[RearNakedStroke]

Only one way to find out. I hope that rumor about Alvarez vs Pettis is true.

[disposableassassin]

I could see Eddie breaking into the top five in the UFC. Out of their latest established imports like shields and Lombard I def see Eddie as having the most potential. However I think Henderson and Diaz would own him.

[Cat--Smasher]

I hope Eddie goes on a tear in the UFC, up until he meets up with the future new lightweight champion of the world, Nate Diaz.

I have to wonder though, is this rumor based on the fact Eddie was sitting with Dana at the last UFC event or do they have some more info behind it. Either way, I think it is happening.

Bellator just lost two of its biggest stars. Time to put in some work promoting new fighters. I guess Chandler is starting to get a big name.

[ckauffman28]

good thing for Bellator he lost to Chandler, i think its all but done and if he gets 3 wins he will be in title shot status

[TBEAR]

The UFC needs to sign him.

[CtGreat]

Alverez vs Guillard make it happen Dana!!

[kingrobert]

In the rumor thread on here yesterday they were saying that he was probably going to fight Pettis. I like Eddie but I dont think he is going to tear the UFC up. He seems to struggle with fighters who just dont stand and bang with him. He also gets dropped in almost every fight he is in.

[mmawolverine]

actually if i were zuffa id try to send him to strikefore first, gilbert needs competition, and eddie would do it if the money was right