Marcos Galvao Plans Victory At Bellator 175, Wants Title Shot At MSG

Marcos Galvao Plans Victory At Bellator 175, Wants Title Shot At MSG

Former champion Marcos Galvao looking to make a run at the featherweight crown with win at Bellator 175.

Mar 29, 2017 by FloCombat Staff
Marcos Galvao Plans Victory At Bellator 175, Wants Title Shot At MSG
By Shawn Smith

While Marcos Galvao has a fight at Bellator 175, that hasn’t stopped him at looking towards the future.

Galvao makes his debut in the featherweight division this weekend against highly-ranked Emmanuel Sanchez and with a win, he’ll be looking to fight in his adopted hometown of New York City.

“Without a doubt; It has always been a dream of mine to fight in my hometown and New York is my home now,” Galvao told FloCombat through translator Sergio DaSilva. “The day of the weigh-ins (June 23) is my birthday, I think that (fighting on the pay-per-view) would be great birthday present to me and I would give the fans a present too. After a big win over Emmanual Sanchez, I then want to fight in Madison Square Garden.”

Bellator announced in March that it will debut in Madison Square Garden with a pay-per-view event in June of 2017, headlined by Fedor Emelianenko versus Matt Mitrione and Chael Sonnen versus Wanderlei Silva. Also announced for the card is a lightweight title fight as Michael Chandler defends against Brent Primus. As well, welterweight champion Douglas Lima defends against Lorenz Larkin.

Galvao believes another title fight would round out the card rather nicely.

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“Every fighter’s objective is to be a world champion in their division; A win over Emmanuel Sanchez catapults me up to the top,” Galvao said. “Being that I was a bantamweight champion and the event is in my hometown, I know Daniel Straus has a fight in April, I think June is a perfect time for me to have a title shot in Madison Square Garden.”

Straus last fought in November of 2015. He’ll defend his world title against Patricio “Pitbull” Friere at Bellator 178 on April 21.

Galvao added that the move to featherweight is one he should have made a while ago.

“To be completely honest, I should have made this decision three fights ago,” Galvao said. “I’ve been struggling more and more to make 135 pounds; I wasn’t performing the way I know I can. The fight with L.C. Davis is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I sat down with my team and decided that was the best decision for my career moving forward.”

Of course, it probably didn’t help that Galvao stablemate Eduardo Dantas recaptured the bantamweight championship in June of 2016.

Galvao’s bout against Sanchez will serve as the co-main event this Friday night at Bellator 175, headlined by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson against Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.