Eddie Alvarez Moves Into “Top 5″ Territory with Dominant Win at Bellator 33

The upstart Bellator FC promotion recently held its thirty-third event, featuring a major championship bout and perhaps the biggest fight in Bellator FC history. In the co-main event, Ben Askren kept his undefeated record intact when he defeated Lyman Good to become the Bellator Welterweight Champion. And in the main event, Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez thoroughly dominated former UFC fighter Roger Huerta. Here are the full results to Bellator 33.

Eddie Alvarez defeats Roger Huerta via TKO due to a Doctor’s Stoppage at the end of Round 2. Ben Askren defeats Lyman Good by Unanimous Decision to become the Bellator Welterweight Champion. Rick Hawn defeats LaVon Maynard via TKO due to strikes at 4:53 of Round 1. Wilson Reis defeats Deividas Taurosevičius via Split Decision. Tim Carpenter defeats Jamal Patterson via Split Decision. Kenny Foster defeats Lester Caslow via Unanimous Decision.  Luiz Azeredo defeats Eduardo Guedes via Unanimous Decision. Nick Cottone defeats Tuan Pham via Unanimous Decision. Fran Evans def Lewis Cassner via submission due to a Triangle Choke at 3:20 of Round 1.

With this win, I think it’s undeniable that Eddie Alvarez has entered into “Top 5” status. Where he belongs in that list is open to debate, and I’m sure we’ll get some of that started soon, but I think Alvarez definitely deserves to be talked about in the same sentence as Frank Edgar, BJ Penn, Shinya Aoki, and Gilbert Melendez. Eddie Alvarez hasn’t lost a fight since 2008, he’s on a six-fight win-streak, and he’s finished every single one of those fights. The man is a phenomenal athlete, and I think big things are in store for him in 2011.

However… with absolutely no disrespect meant to Bellator, a promotion that I’m not too knowledgeable of but have no major problems with, I think Eddie Alvarez has become too big for Bellator FC. Alvarez needs world-ranked opponents, and right now Bellator has set itself up as the go-to place for aspiring rookies rather than top-level talent. Aside from a few bright examples, with Alvarez himself being one of them, Bellator FC doesn’t have a lot of recognizable, world-tested fighters. If Alvarez doesn’t move on to greener pastures, he may honestly begin to stagnate at Bellator.

If Scott Coker and Strikeforce keep stalling in their attempts to make an Eddie Alvarez vs. Gilbert Melendez “Champion vs. Champion” fight, then I think Alvarez should leave Bellator outright and join with Strikeforce. The competition is fiercer, the names are bigger, the pay is higher, and the exposure is greater. I think Eddie Alvarez could become one of Strikeforce’s biggest assets and would be a huge step in the right direction as Strikeforce still struggles with filling its ranks with worthy contenders.

In regards to Roger Huerta, I honestly empathize with the man. It’s pretty plain to see that his brawling, “eat two just to give one” style has ran its course. Huerta finds himself in a very difficult predicament: he needs to completely change his style in order to be truly successful as a Mixed Martial Artist, but his style is what got him his fame and popularity in the first place. I don’t know where Roger Huerta goes from here, but I’ll certainly be pulling for him and I wish him nothing but the best.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of Bellator 33? And where do you see Eddie Alvarez and Roger Huerta ending up in the future?