Eddie Alvarez doubts Michael Chandler is interested in completing their trilogy.
Alvarez, who meets Mike Perry in the main event of BKFC 56 on Dec. 2 in Salt Lake City, is open to an MMA return. He suggested a rubber match with Chandler potentially in the UFC, and Chandler seemed all for it.
Chandler is currently slated to welcome Conor McGregor back to the octagon in 2024, but Alvarez thinks he’s avoiding a rubber match with him.
“He’s interested in Conor,” Alvarez told Morning Kombat of Chandler. “The last thing that guy wants to do is fight me. I’ve been trying to fight him. Wherever I go, he goes later on.”
Alvarez and Chandler fought in two title-fight barnburners under the Bellator banner, with Chandler winning their first meeting in 2011 by fourth-round submission and Alvarez exacting his revenge two years later in a close fight.
Alvarez revealed he had a phone call with Chandler to discuss the possibility of a trilogy bout, which he says was received with enthusiasm at the time.
“I called Mike Chandler directly when we were both free agents, and I pitched him the idea of me and him walking in the office together and selling our third fight to every promotion and seeing who paid us the most,” Alvarez said. “I think that would have been the most beneficial for both of us. He agreed with me. He thought it was a great idea, and I never heard from him again.”
