Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez

Highly-anticipated rematch will take place in Cleveland, Ohio

By FCF Staff

The long-awaited rematch between former Bellator Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Eddie Alvarez (22-3) and DREAM champ Shinya Aoki (30-5) will finally come to fruition at Bellator 66 at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio on April 20, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced today.

The bout will mark Aoki’s first start in the Bellator cage.  Alvarez will look to rebound from his first defeat under the Bellator banner, a Nov. loss to Michael Chandler in which Alvarez surrendered his Bellator strap.

Alvarez and Aoki faced off for the first time in December 2008 as part of the DREAM “Dynamite!” 2008 fight card in Japan.  Aoki forced Alvarez to tap from a heel hook just 92 seconds to submit Alvarez via heel hook.

Additional Bellator 66 bouts are expected to be announced soon.