A rumored rematch between Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez has been set for Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the move earlier today. While the rematch has been in the works for awhile, today was the first official news about the event.
Aoki and Alvarez originally met at K-1 and DREAM’s Dynamite!! 2008 event. Aoki needed only 92 seconds to submit Alvarez for the first time in his career via heel hook.
The Aoki rematch will be the former Bellator champion’s first fight since his 2011 “fight of the year” candidate loss with Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler. The loss was Alvarez’s first loss since his 2008 loss to Aoki.
Aoki comes into the fight with a seven-fight win streak dating back to his 2010 loss to Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
