Konan
02-06-2013, 07:09 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Bellator's first pay-per-view event will happen sooner rather than later if Eddie Alvarez returns to the promotion's fold.
"If we can figure that out, I think we'd be on a fast track to being able to put [a pay-per-view card] in motion," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney on Tuesday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
After suing each other in court, the two parties apparently are at a standstill. To Rebney's knowledge, there haven't been any new developments since a federal judge blocked an injunction to allow Alvarez to sign with the UFC, which intended to promote him at UFC 159 in April.
A rep for Alvarez recently declined comment on the dueling lawsuits' status.
Rebney said he hasn't kept close track of the cases since he's been focused on Bellator's crossover to Spike TV and the recent announcement of a new reality show featuring UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
"I put it into the hands of the attorneys and said, 'Let me know when and if we can reopen the door and try to get it fixed and work it out,'" he said.
In matching an offer from UFC parent Zuffa at the expiration of Alvarez's previous contract, Bellator signaled its intention to promote him in a spring pay-per-view fight against the man who took his belt, current champ Michael Chandler (11-0 MMA, 8-0 BFC).
Alvarez (24-3 MMA, 8-1 BFC), though, declined to sign the offer, arguing that the deals weren't equivalent and questioning whether Bellator could deliver on pay-per-view.
Bellator lawyers argued the promotion's relationship with Viacom positioned it for success in the pay TV market. The media giant, which owns Spike TV, purchased a controlling interest in the promotion two years ago.
In court late this past month, the federal judge determined that Alvarez hadn't sufficiently proven that he would be irreparably harmed if he didn't sign with the UFC.
Now, Alvarez will ultimately decide whether to return to Bellator or fight further to free himself. Rebney remains optimistic he'll do the former. The promoter wants to see Chandler vs. Alvarez II.
"It's the best fight I've ever seen live, pay-per-view or free," Rebney said. "I think the rematch of that fight would be epic."
"If we can figure that out, I think we'd be on a fast track to being able to put [a pay-per-view card] in motion," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney on Tuesday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
After suing each other in court, the two parties apparently are at a standstill. To Rebney's knowledge, there haven't been any new developments since a federal judge blocked an injunction to allow Alvarez to sign with the UFC, which intended to promote him at UFC 159 in April.
A rep for Alvarez recently declined comment on the dueling lawsuits' status.
Rebney said he hasn't kept close track of the cases since he's been focused on Bellator's crossover to Spike TV and the recent announcement of a new reality show featuring UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
"I put it into the hands of the attorneys and said, 'Let me know when and if we can reopen the door and try to get it fixed and work it out,'" he said.
In matching an offer from UFC parent Zuffa at the expiration of Alvarez's previous contract, Bellator signaled its intention to promote him in a spring pay-per-view fight against the man who took his belt, current champ Michael Chandler (11-0 MMA, 8-0 BFC).
Alvarez (24-3 MMA, 8-1 BFC), though, declined to sign the offer, arguing that the deals weren't equivalent and questioning whether Bellator could deliver on pay-per-view.
Bellator lawyers argued the promotion's relationship with Viacom positioned it for success in the pay TV market. The media giant, which owns Spike TV, purchased a controlling interest in the promotion two years ago.
In court late this past month, the federal judge determined that Alvarez hadn't sufficiently proven that he would be irreparably harmed if he didn't sign with the UFC.
Now, Alvarez will ultimately decide whether to return to Bellator or fight further to free himself. Rebney remains optimistic he'll do the former. The promoter wants to see Chandler vs. Alvarez II.
"It's the best fight I've ever seen live, pay-per-view or free," Rebney said. "I think the rematch of that fight would be epic."