André Galvão signs with ACBJJ and fights in Rio in November
The five-time world champion debuts with the league on November 7, eight days after ACBJJ announced Rodolfo Vieira, a rival he has faced three times
André Galvão is back in professional jiu-jitsu. On Friday, ACBJJ announced the signing of the five-time world champion and ADCC champion, who already has a date for his debut with the league: November 7, in Rio de Janeiro. His opponent has not been announced.
“November 7, I’ll be fighting in Rio,” Galvão wrote on social media right after the announcement.
The signing comes eight days after the league announced Rodolfo Vieira, and fans are already connecting the dots. Both are in the IBJJF Hall of Fame, ruled the same era of the sport and have met three times.
Three matches, two wins for Rodolfo
Their first meeting came in 2009, at the ADCC Brazilian trials at 88 kg. Galvão, already a two-time world champion, beat a brown belt Rodolfo and earned his spot in the event.
After that, Rodolfo won both times they met at the World Pro in Abu Dhabi. In 2012 he beat Galvão 4 to 2 in the open class final. In 2014 he submitted him with an Ezekiel choke in the open class semifinal.
Since Rodolfo was announced, ACBJJ has been asking fans who they want to see him face. Galvão’s name came up in the comments, and Galvão himself left fire emojis on the post. So far, though, neither the league nor the athletes have confirmed the match.
Back at 44
Galvão returned to competition in early October, at 44. At the IBJJF Pan No-Gi, he reached the final and gave up the title match to his student Natã Tenca.
The comeback follows the hardest stretch of his career. In February, Galvão was accused of sexual misconduct by former students and was removed from Atos, the team he founded in San Diego. He denies the allegations.
ACBJJ schedule
Before November, the league holds ACBJJ 23 on October 25 at Farmasi Arena, also in Rio. Rodolfo, who won in the UFC in September, still has no date or opponent for his debut. Along with him and Galvão, ACBJJ has also signed Edson Barboza in recent weeks.
Read more: Rodolfo Vieira signs with ACBJJ and Buchecha rules out another match with Rodolfo Vieira.
Do you want to see André Galvão face Rodolfo Vieira at ACBJJ? Tell us in the comments.
