The story of the first fight was, in my opinion, how Chandler seemed to improve with each round against Alvarez. Chandler has not peaked there however, as he has annihilated Rick Hawn and David Rickels in consecutive fights. Chandler always reminded me of an early Matt Hughes in his early fights, but he no longer tips his game plans like Hughes always did in fights. Chandler has become arguably the best fighter outside the UFC at this point but he still faces a challenge in Alvarez.
Alvarez is certainly a great lightweight, but his time off does not help him in this fight. Even before the start of his hiatus he showed some vulnerabilities in the striking game that could cause him issues in tomorrow's fight. I think this bout will be telling of Alvarez's MMA future, as win keeps him relevant but a second loss would be devastating. While Alvarez will feel the pressure, he is professional enough to handle it. That said, I am not sure it will help here as I see Chandler overwhelming Alvarez late in the fight to solidify his already tight grip on the belt.
MMAFrenzy Pick: Chandler
Photo via Bellator MMA
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