It never felt quite right, seeing Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez II take a backseat to a pair of faded, beaten down names. So in a way, it's strange to see how fittingly how Bellator 106 played out. Ortiz-Rampage fell apart amid a cascade of giggles, because of course it did, and ultimately we got the ending that should've been there all along.

Chandler and Alvarez stepped in on Saturday night and wasted no time delivering another white-knuckle ‘Fight of the Year' candidate on the biggest stage in Bellator history. After a nightmare year, spent more in the courts than the cage, Alvarez got his revenge (in more ways than one). Now with the scored tied at one apiece, a massive trilogy fight is a mouthwateringly foregone conclusion. To say the fight world loved it, well, that'd be an understatement.

Fuckkkkkk yeahhhhhhhh eddieeeeeeee hahahaha I'm so ducking happy @Ealvarezfight congrats my man!!!! 👑 — TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) November 3, 2013

Great Fight !!! — phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013

I thought Chandler got it but I’ll happily take rounds 11-15. Yes please. All day. Every day. #Bellator — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013

@Ealvarezfight u the man kid welcome back to the TOP!!!!!!!! — kurt pellegrino (@kurtpellegrino) November 3, 2013

Words cannot describe how inspired I am by Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. These two are a different breed. #BellatorMMA — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) November 3, 2013

I'm hearing Djork oops Bjork got served a big fat plate of Karma tonight :) Congrats Eddie!! — Dana White (@danawhite) November 3, 2013

I don't know if I agree with that decision. I'm gonna rewatch tho. Sick ass fight but I felt like @MikeChandlerMMA pulled it off — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 3, 2013

I'm happy for @Ealvarezfight for overcoming everything. but I think despite the cut @MikeChandlerMMA won that fight — Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 3, 2013

Really believe Chandler coulda saved his face damage had he had his hands up. Keeping your hands in position is like a good wrestling stance — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013

Alvarez/ Chandler is the reason I love MMA so much. — Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 3, 2013

That was a AWESOME FIGHT BELLATOR ROCKS — Eric Prindle (@EricPrindleMMA) November 3, 2013

The lightweight @blackzilians didn't cheat u bro @Ealvarezfight ! U had a great camp & u deserve it, Congratulations I'm very happy for u!!! — Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) November 3, 2013

Alvarez and Chandler are both winners!!! What a fight congrats to both warriors!!!! — Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) November 3, 2013

Awesome fight, but thought it was the wrong call. If it was boxing I would maybe c Split, but really feel @MikeChandlerMMA won it 48-47 — Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 3, 2013

That fight was amazing but #Chandler won that fight. That was shit judging. — Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) November 3, 2013

The crowd gets a great classic after a lame card, and they boo the winner. Modern MMA nouchebag 'fans' can suck it. #BellatorMMA — Paul Lazenby (@MaulerMMA) November 3, 2013

As an athlete how do you mentally Prepare for another fight like that? Crazy. #Bellator — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013

Hey #Bellator I would've paid for this fight and the #StraussCurran fight but definitely not for #TitoRampage or #RampageBeltran FYI. — Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) November 3, 2013

That was an epic fight between @Ealvarezfight and @MikeChandlerMMA . Can't wait to see the 3rd installment and then fight the winner. — Dave Jansen (@DaveJansen155) November 3, 2013

Ouch that mother fuckers tough , but we got it done Baby! pic.twitter.com/FcKaXKaJgS — Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) November 3, 2013

NEWTON DOES IT AGAIN

Congrats on your title @Emanuel_Newton! Coach Donnie is excited for you. — Raphael Davis (@RaphaelDavis205) November 3, 2013

I don't know? Newton let off the gas in 4th n 5th. Think mo got rounds 1 n5 and newton got 2,3 and 4 — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 3, 2013

Congrats @Emanuel_Newton and great fight @KingMoFH both good dudes and long futures! — Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 3, 2013

Idk why but the commentators aren't addressing how many body kicks @Emanuel_Newton has landed and the effects they're having. — Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 3, 2013

STRAUS WINS ONE THE HARD WAY

All the way illegal. #Bellator — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013

God dammit!!! #Bellator @DanielStraus is tough as hell. Get back in there man and get that shit back! — Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) November 3, 2013

The NEW Bellator champion! @DanielStraus !!! — Matthew brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 3, 2013

Strauss won even with out the illegal knee — Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) November 3, 2013

Congrats to my man @DanielStraus for the big win tonight and taking the belt as his own #tothewinnergoesthespoils — Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 3, 2013

The new champ @DanielStraus !!!! Congrats brother you earned it! — The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) November 3, 2013

Very happy for winning the Daniel Straus and the victory of my friend Cristiano Souza. Great night for ATT — Gleison Tibau (@TibauATT) November 3, 2013

Curran obviously disappointed seemed to lose focus after he landed that illegal knee. — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 3, 2013

WOW Straus definitely made me eat my words. Totally underestimated him! #bellator106 — Nick Barnes (@Nick_Phoenix170) November 3, 2013

Great performance by Strauss, Curran will be back for sure. He is the real deal. — Brett Cooper (@BrettCoopermma) November 3, 2013

I want to congratulate my teammate @DanielStraus for his victory and now new Bellator Champion!@AmericanTopTeam !!! pic.twitter.com/H2x8kSM2Dt — Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) November 3, 2013

YOUR INAGRUIAL FIGHT MASTER CHAMPION

Huge congrats to my big brotha @DIESELRIGGSMMA on a dominant performance tonight...a true inspiration to me as a family man n fighter... — Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) November 3, 2013

Just turned the tv on and guess what I see? Yes, Junie Browining is fighting right now on Bellator. — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) November 3, 2013

Great job to my bro/teammate/cornerman @DIESELRIGGSMMA did a great job tonight Winning the show everyone u best keep ur eye open he's coming — Efrain Escudero (@effyescudero) November 3, 2013

Best post fight speech ever belongs to @DIESELRIGGSMMA — Mitch Clarke (@MitchClarkeMMA) November 3, 2013

OHHH you're supposed to edit the "fuck" not the word AFTER — Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 3, 2013

No wonder why nobody watched the.reality show. @DIESELRIGGSMMA is a boring motherfucker zzzzzzzz wake me yo when Mo is fighting — phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013

Bellators "bleep" guy is fired. #Bellator — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 3, 2013

@DIESELRIGGSMMA face looks like a catchers mitt. Lmao @JoeWarrenMMA — phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013

@DIESELRIGGSMMA I'm ready when you are ........ @BjornRebney @BellatorMMA put ur money where your mouth is. Well see who need to retire — phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 3, 2013