Is the third time the charm? After two postponements, Bellator has once again booked bantamweight champion Marcos Galvao and Eduardo Dantas, this time in Fresno, CA on June 17th.
It’s been nearly a year since the Bellator bantamweight title was last contested. Marcos Galvao submitted Joe Warren on March 27th, 2015 to become the promotion’s new champion, but his first title defense (against a familiar foe) has been delayed twice over. On Monday, Bellator officials confirmed that the rematch between Galvao and Eduardo Dantas has been re-booked for Bellator 156 on June 17th at Fresno, California’s Save Mart Center.
Initially, the two Brazilians were set to meet at Bellator 144 last October, but Dantas had to pull out with a rib injury. The fight was then moved to the main event of Bellator 150 (February 26th), but an illness forced Galvao to withdraw just one day before fight night.
Galvao (17-6-1) and Dantas (17-4) first fought in February 2013 at Bellator 89, with Dantas knocking Galvao out in his first successful title defense. Dantas would later relinquish his title to Joe Warren, who of course lost to Galvao, which has led to these two good friends and former Nova Uniao teammates getting paired up to fight for the title again, only this time it’s Galvao who possesses the belt.
No other fights were announced for Bellator 156. The night’s main card airs live on Spike TV at 9 PM ET/PT.