Mica Galvão only takes fights against tough guys
BJJ Stars president Fepa Lopes tells VF Comunica that Mica turns down average opponents. His record at the event backs it up
If you want to book Mica Galvão, don’t bother offering him an average opponent. That’s what Fepa Lopes, president of BJJ Stars, told Vitor Freitas in an interview on the VF Comunica YouTube channel. According to Lopes, the Brazilian star only says yes when the matchup is a real challenge.
That stands out because Lopes says most athletes behave the other way around. In the same interview, he explained why many of the biggest fights in Jiu-Jitsu never happen: too many competitors avoid the matchups fans want most. “Very few athletes say, ‘I’ll fight anyone,’” he said.
What Fepa hears when he calls Mica
With Mica, it’s a different story. “Every time I try to bring him to BJJ Stars, it’s the complete opposite of what I hear from a lot of people. If it’s not a really tough guy, he doesn’t want it. You offer him a so-so opponent and he won’t take the fight,” Lopes said.
He also explained what gets Mica to sign. “It has to be a guy who’s really on the rise. It can be someone from a different weight class, someone who holds a title he doesn’t have. That’s the kind of thing that motivates him to fight.”
And he says it shows on the mats too. “He steps in to compete and puts on a show. Win or lose, he puts on a show.”
His BJJ Stars record backs it up
Mica’s history at BJJ Stars fits that description. In 2022, at 18, he entered the BJJ Stars 8 middleweight gi Grand Prix and opened against multiple-time world champion Leandro Lo, winning by decision. He then beat Maurício Oliveira, who was hurt by an old injury, and submitted Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa with a bow and arrow choke in the final.
A few months later, at BJJ Stars 9, he took a no-gi superfight against Isaque Bahiense and lost on penalties.
The open class against a 165 kg opponent
The clearest example of Mica taking on “someone from a different weight class” came at BJJ Stars 10 in April 2023. He entered the open class Grand Prix as the lightest man in the bracket, around 85 kg, and opened against the heaviest, Otávio Nalati, at 165 kg. Mica won on points.
He beat heavyweight Kaynan Duarte by disqualification in the quarterfinals, then lost on points to Fellipe Andrew in the semifinals while visibly injured.
Davi Ramos and the 2025 title
In August 2024, Mica headlined BJJ Stars 13 against Davi Ramos, a 2015 ADCC world champion and UFC veteran, and won on points in a no-gi match.
The following year he returned for the BJJ Stars 15 middleweight no-gi Grand Prix in São Paulo. He beat Jon Blank 3-0, edged Elijah Dorsey by decision and submitted Roberto Jimenez with an armbar at 2:35 of the final to take the $17,500 prize.
Watch the full interview
Fepa Lopes has been promoting superfights since 2002. The full interview, in Portuguese, is on the VF Comunica YouTube channel.
Who do you think is tough enough to get Mica back to BJJ Stars?
Read also:
- Kade Ruotolo vs. Mica Galvão: are exclusive contracts blocking the rematch?
- Why big Jiu-Jitsu matches don’t happen, according to Fepa Lopes
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