If Eddie Alvarez’s Bellator career ends after his final contracted fight, he’ll go out with a good scrap. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced via Twitter Monday that the former 155-pound champ will fight Patricky “Pitbull” Freire on Friday, October 12th at Bellator 76.
Alvarez (23-3) rebounded from his title loss to Michael Chandler last November with a first round TKO win over Shinya Aoki in April. He’s been one of the promotion’s most consistent performers and its top star since debuting in April 2009 and winning the belt two months later.
It’s the final fight on his deal and assuming he becomes a free agent, Bellator will have three months to match any offer.
Recently, they declined to match an offer to their last 185-pound champion Hector Lombard, who signed with the UFC. He made his debut this month against Tim Boetsch and dropped a split decision that was roundly panned.
Freire (10-3) will be looking to rebound from a second round submission loss to Lloyd Woodard in March in the most recent 155-pound tournament quarterfinals. Before that, the 2011 lightweight tournament finalist finished Kurt Pellegrino in less than a minute.