Sherdog’s Top 10: Best Title Fights

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2. Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler
Bellator Fighting Championships 58
Nov. 19, 2011 | Hollywood, Fla.
It is a shame their first encounter was overshadowed by another all-time scrap -- Dan Henderson beat Mauricio Rua at UFC 139 -- on the same night, but Alvarez and Chandler duked it out with a Bellator MMA title on the line. Eighteen minutes of virtually non-stop violence left both men bloodied and swollen, their fight becoming something of a gold standard for championship drama in MMA.

Right off the bat, Chandler took control with a lead left hook that dropped Alvarez against the cage. The fight could have been over before it started, but as is often the case when Alvarez is involved, he had a comeback up his sleeve. The Blackzilians representative responded with a vicious right of his own that dropped the No. 1 contender in his tracks before he could secure a takedown. The first round featured another moment in which Alvarez appeared to be finished, but again he survived. The second frame provided a recuperation period for both lightweights, but the pendulum swung towards Alvarez in the third as Chandler’s pace began to slow. Alvarez showed off his strong striking skills and avoided the University of Missouri graduate’s All-American wrestling pedigree. Heading into the championship rounds, Alvarez appeared to be in control. Seemingly out of nowhere, Chandler connected on Alvarez’s jaw with two big looping right hands and staggered him. The challenger saw an opening and took it, working his way into full mount. With Alvarez desperately looking to escape, the champion eventually succumbed to a rear-naked choke.

Chandler had earned the right to be called Bellator lightweight champion. He successfully defended the title twice before surrendering it to Alvarez in their Bellator 106 rematch, which was also an instant classic.

Number 1 » Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson