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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
While the second season of Bellator Fighting Championships will bring four new tournaments to crown number one contenders to season one's Champions, those Champions will still be in action throughout this year's events. The organization plans on putting their four Champions into "non-tournament, non-title catchweight" bouts that they're deeming "Super Fights," and the first of those was announced by the organization Tuesday.
Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez will be taking on former UFC lightweight Josh "The Dentist" Neer at a to be determined May event.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney stated in Tuesday's release, "In addition to being one of the top lightweights on earth, Eddie's a blast to watch fight. Alvarez vs. Neer should produce fireworks from the start. Our hyper-competitive tournaments, May Super Fights and September title-defense fights will all create some awesome nationally televised events."
Alvarez hasn't fought since a victory in Japan's DREAM organization in October. His last loss came before the first Bellator tournament, where he was submitted by Shinya Aoki in DREAM for the WAMMA Lightweight Title. Defeating Greg Loughran and Eric Reynolds on his way to the finals, Alvarez submitted Toby Imada in the finals by submission in the second round.
Neer has picked up two straight wins in 2010 already after getting cut by the UFC following two straight losses in 2009. He inches closer to 40 professional fights in numerous organizations with this Bellator debut.
Penick's Analysis: This is a great way for Bellator to get the exposure on season one's Champions and keep them in the eyes of fans while promoting the tournaments for their number one contenders, and this is definitely a good start to that. Neer struggled against two fighters that were able to frustrate him with takedowns and with a smothering top game in the case of Kurt Pellegrino, but he's always a game opponent. Alvarez is still considered one of the top lightweight fighters in the world, however, and as Bellator Champ will obviously be the featured and favored fighter. This is a nice addition for Bellator with a fighter that has been seen in featured fights in the UFC.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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