The stage is now set for the Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Title fight as reigning Bellator Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas is set to defend his belt against fellow Brazilian Marcos “Loro” Galvao on February 14th from Charlotte’s Bojangles’ Coliseum LIVE on Spike TV. The night will also feature the opening round of Bellator’s highly anticipated Middleweight Tournament, as well as loaded preliminary card that will be streamed exclusively on Spike.com.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting The Bojangles’ Coliseum Box Office, with tickets starting at just $37 dollars. The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 10 p.m. EST on Spike, as well as in Spanish language on mun2. The preliminary card will be streamed LIVE and FREE on Spike.com starting at 8 p.m. EST.
At just 23 years old, Dantas already has amassed an impressive 14-3 record, including victories over Luis Nogueira, Ed West, Alexis Vila and former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky. Training under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grandmaster and Nova Uniao founder Andre Pederneiras, Dantas is ready for the challenge that awaits him on February 14th.
“I feel great, and I’m ready to defend my belt,” said Dantas. “It seems like I’ve been away from the Bellator cage for a while, and I’m ready to face Marcos. I consider Marcos a friend, but all that goes away when we step into the cage. I’m going to show the world why I am the Bellator Bantamweight Champion.”
Galvao has similar feelings as the Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Champion has trained with Dantas and Pederneiras in the past with Nova Uniao. Now calling New York home, Galvao knows his February 14th showdown with Dantas is the biggest fight of his career, and won’t let friendship stand in the way of becoming a champion.
“”Everyone is fine with it, and everyone knows what is at stake,” said Galvao.” “We’ve known each other for a long time, but this is our job, and nothing will get in the way of that. We will shake hands before the fight, and we will shake hands after the fight, but it’s going to be war when the cage door shuts.”
“Eduardo and Marcos are two of the best bantamweights in this sport, and with the ties they both have to one of the best MMA camps in the world, Nova Uniao, this has the makings of an incredible fight,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “We’ve got a stacked Middleweight Tournament featured on the card along with a number of great preliminary fights on Spike.com, so the Charlotte crowd is in for something special on February 14th.”
