Though she was unable to make the 115-pound weight limit, Jessica “Jag” Aguilar avenged the first defeat of her career tonight at Bellator Fighting Championships 58 in Hollywood, Florida. Aguilar earned a Unanimous Decision win over rival Lisa Ellis-Ward after three hard-fought rounds.

Also on tonight’s Bellator 58 card, Michael Chandler captured the Bellator Lightweight Championship from former champion Eddie Alvarez in one of the promotion’s best fights of the year. Chandler survived a rough third round and submitted the highly-touted Alvarez in round four to claim the title.

Aguilar (12-4-0) and Ellis-Ward (14-7-0) engaged in striking exchanges during the first round and Aguilar found a home for her overhand right. Ellis-Ward landed one of her own and tried to clinch, but Aguilar kept her at bay. A big right hook scored for Aguilar and she sent Ellis-Ward briefly off-balance with a looping left late in the round. Ellis-Ward landed a left of her own and a knee before the bell.

Left hooks scored for Aguilar in the second round and she began to put together quick one-two combos. Ellis-Ward flurried in return and both fighters began to target the body. A left hook from Aguilar set off an exchange of power punches and Ellis-Ward fell after throwing a knee. A bloodied Aguilar landed punches on the ground and worked for a Brabo Choke. She racked up points with knees from a front headlock and struck from the top. Ellis-Ward stood and punches were exchanged.

Aguilar landed right hooks and stiff jabs in the final round and her punches continued to connect before Ellis-Ward could return fire. Aguilar caught a kick and tripped Ellis-Ward momentarily. Ellis-Ward looked to jab, but ate a right cross after throwing a body kick. A pair of front kicks to the face backed Aguilar up and Ellis-Ward rushed in with punches. Aguilar began to bleed heavily from the nose, but she got Ellis-Ward down and escaped a Kimura.

After three competitive rounds, the judges were unanimous in awarding the decision victory to Aguilar, who campaigned for a fight with Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii after the decision was read. However, Aguilar will have to rebound from the setback of missing weight.

Winner: Jessica Aguilar by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 12-4-0.

In the lightweight title main event, Chandler (9-0-0) and Alvarez (22-3-0) wasted no time in exchanging huge punches right away in round one. Chandler dropped and badly hurt Alvarez, but Alvarez recovered and answered back with punches of his own. The fighters traded punches on the feet and Alvarez defended against takedown attempts. Alvarez landed right hands and a knee, but Chandler fired back with punches and scored with a nice right hook. He dropped Alvarez again just before the bell.

The second round opened with an exchange of punches and both landed leg kicks. Alvarez began to bleed from the lip and Chandler took his back. Alvarez scrambled to his feet and scored with a left hook. He secured a front headlock and got Chandler down, then tried for a Brabo Choke. Chandler stood, but Alvarez landed knees. He connected with more punches as the round wound down.

Alvarez found success with lead left hooks in round three and he nearly secured a guillotine choke two minutes into the round. Alvarez swarmed with punches and rocked Chandler, who circled in retreat. Alvarez unloaded with punches to the head and body and Chandler dove for a leg. Alvarez stayed up and bloodied Chandler with more punches. He rocked him with another flurry and stuffed a takedown.

With the back-and-forth fight still up for grabs, the fighters were more cautious in the fourth round as they circled and picked their shots. Two minutes in, Chandler tried for a takedown and landed a hard right hand as Alvarez stood. Chandler dropped Alvarez with another right and dove in with punches. Chandler moved to mount, then took Alvarez’s back and secured a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

Winner: Michael Chandler by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:06 of round four. He improves to 9-0-0 and becomes the new Bellator Lightweight Champion.