By Tobe Johnson
This is a guest piece by a student of Marcos Galvao, who was able to offer a unique perspective on the matchup between former mentor and student, and how the emotions of the two men affected the championship contest.
At Bellator 89, the Dantas-Galvao fight ended with the champion Eduardo “Du du” Dantas in one corner crying, and the challenger Marcos “Loro” Galvao
stretched out on the ground unconscious. A tearful Vitor “Shaolin” Ribiero, who often serves as translator, congratulated Dantas, while a devastated and tearful Paula Galvao cried in the audience.
Professor Galvao was a teacher, trainer, and friend of Eduardo Dantas for many years. Being a student of Galvao myself I can tell you that Loro is a teacher by calling. Everyone has had a teacher who really believes in them and makes a major difference in their lives. Loro is one of those.
Dantas is a teacher’s dream. He is the student who uses the knowledge and wisdom the teacher has shared with him to go out and become successful beyond his dreams. Eduardo is an example to all other students that if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dreams.
Both men came to America from Brazil to achieve their dreams of winning a major championship. Dantes, the prodigy, became the Bellator champion very quickly. Galvao entered the bantamweight tournament having been the victim of highly questionable decisions last year. He fought through several tough opponents to reach the final.
The first round was fought with skill and caution. Galvao managed to take the back of Dantas while standing. Dantas protected well against the takedown, as Gavao is a master of the trip takedown from the clutch. Dantas showed superior hand speed and skill as Marcos threw bombs and refused to back up. Galvao showed the heart and technique of a lion, continually moving forward as he stalks his prey.
In the second round, there were more punches thrown. Dantas, who had a cut above his eye from the first round, threw a variety of kicks and kept Galvao at bay with his reach advantage. As Galvao was coming to his feet after a slip, Dantas had the opportunity to try a guillotine, but that would have been a foolish waste of energy. After a brief standing exchange, Dantas landed a crushing uppercut to Galvao and the fight was over.
Although Dantas won, there was little joy in his victory, having bested a mentor and teammate. Dantas declared that the two would step out of the ring as friends, but that remains to be seen because Loro did not look to be in a chummy mood after the fight, and brushed Eduardo’s attempted embrace aside.
After time passes, the emotional wave of last night’s brawl will die down. I’m sure Loro will recognize that the friendship they share is more important than any belt or prize money. Let’s hope the world will recognize this great warrior and we will get to see Loro fight again. I don’t think the fans would have a problem with Dantas vs. Galvao 2.
Edited to correct that Mr. Johnson is not, in fact, a training partner of Eduardo Dantas, and is merely a student of Professor Galvao, like Dantas was. We apologize for the factual inaccuracy.
