Eddie Alvarez to Defend Bellator LW Title vs. Pat Curran, April 2nd

Thursday, March 3, 2011

By FCF Staff

After months delay due to a shoulder injury, Pat Curran will finally face Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez, at the promotion’s upcoming April 2nd event in Uncasville, CT. Bellator 39 will be hosted by the Mohegan Sun Arena and it will be broadcast live on MTV 2. (Pictured: Alvarez punching Roger Huerta)

Curran (13-3) worked his way into a title shot last year by winning Bellator’s Season 2 lightweight tournament, scoring wins over Mike Ricci, Roger Huerta and finally, Toby Imada. The 23 year-old Illinois fighter has won four straight fights and hasn’t loss since December, 2009, when he was submitted by Travis Perzynski.

Alvarez (21-2) continues to maintain his position as one of the world’s top 155lb. fighters, as the Philadelphia fighter is coming off a stoppage win over Huerta in October, to extend his winning streak to six. The 26 year-old Alvarez has lost just once in his last ten fights; in December, 2008, he was submitted in the first round by Dream champion Shinya Aoki.

Bellator has also confirmed that former UFC welterweight Ben Saunders will meet veteran Matt Lee in a non-tourney bout.

Saunders (9-3-2) last competed in November and tapped out Elijah Harshbarger with strikes, while competing under the World Extreme Fighting banner.

Lee (13-9-1) hasn’t fought since May, 2010, when he stopped Brent Oteri in the second round at Moosin’s “God of Martial Arts” event.