· Alvarez vs. Curran Title Bout, Semifinals, And Saunders Debut Set For Bellator 39

· Article author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Posted on 04/01 at 09:55 AM

Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez is set to return to fighting for the first time in seven months, this weekend. He is scheduled to face Pat Curran in his first title defense. Alvarez has competed three times since winning the championship in 2009 but a catchweight fight, a non-title fight, and a trek to Japan to fight for Dream has left Alvarez without his first defense. Curran looks to keep his four-fight win streak alive and to take the belt home. Bellator 39 will air live April 2 on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET, and is being held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

The fight card also features a pair of welterweight semifinal tournament matchups. Lyman Good faces Rick Hawn and Toby Imada takes on Patricky Freire. Hawn is undefeated in 10 pro fights with only three wins coming by way of the judges scorecards. The rest of his bouts were decidedly one-sided with seven stoppage wins by KO/TKO.

"This is one of the most talent-filled events we’ve ever produced—headlined by a world title fight featuring Eddie Alvarez, one of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the planet,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. "'Pitbull' vs. Imada and Good vs. Hawn both look like they will be spectacular fights as well. This should be an amazing night of fights."

Good is no stranger to stopping his opponents, with six career wins out of 11 bouts being decided inside the distance and only one loss on his record. Meanwhile Toby Imada, perhaps best known for his fantastic inverted triangle choke victory over Jorge Masvidal in 2009, will challenge Patricky Freire. Imada is a black belt in judo while Freire is a black belt in jiu-jitsu.

Rounding out the televised portion of the card will be the Bellator debut of former UFC fighter Ben Saunders. Saunders last competed in November for the World Extreme Fighting with a first round stoppage win. He started his career with a streak of seven wins, no losses and two draws in nine fights as well as a stint on the popular reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter." Saunders was released from the UFC after losing three out of four bouts. He will face Matt Lee (13-9) on the card.