André Galvão beats Toquinho again at ACBJJ 23 in Rio
Fifteen years after their ADCC final, Galvão won the rematch under Battle Jiu-Jitsu rules, where punches and kicks to the body are legal
André Galvão beat Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares on Friday night in the main event of ACBJJ 23 at Arena Carioca 1, in Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park. Fifteen years after winning their 2011 ADCC final, Galvão did it again, this time at 100 kg under Battle Jiu-Jitsu rules, which allow punches, kicks, elbows and knees to the body, but not to the head.
A rematch with rules Galvão didn’t sign up for
Their only previous meeting was the under-88 kg final at ADCC 2011 in Nottingham, England. Galvão won 9-4 and went on to take the absolute title too. Palhares had reached that final by submitting his first three opponents with leg locks.
This time, the conditions changed after Galvão said yes. The 44-year-old told Sherdog the weight, the match length and the striking were all added later.
“First they got my yes, then came the surprises,” Galvão said.
He also pointed out that he has seven MMA fights on his record and trained with Anderson Silva, Rafael Feijão and Ronaldo Jacaré, so getting hit didn’t scare him much.
Palhares came in promising a finish
Palhares, 46, saw the new rules as his way to flip the 2011 result. In an exclusive interview with VF Comunica, he made his plan clear.
“If I had any doubt, I wouldn’t fight. I’m predictable. Everybody knows I’m going for the finish,” Palhares said.
Galvão knew the danger. Before the event, he called his opponent “one of the most dangerous athletes ever in MMA and in our sport,” mostly because of his leg attacks.
More from ACBJJ 23
In the co-main event, Rodolfo Vieira submitted André Muniz with an arm triangle in a no-gi match between two former UFC middleweights. Herdeson Batista beat Kelvin Gastelum by decision, and Edson Barboza lost to Rashid Magomedov under Battle rules.
In the gi, Diogo Reis submitted Bruno Borges for the 60 kg title, and Jonnatas Gracie beat Islam Mamilov by decision for the 80 kg title.
Galvão leads 2-0
Galvão is now 2-0 against Palhares, once in pure grappling and once with strikes. Is this rivalry settled, or should they run it back a third time? Let us know in the comments.
Read more
- Toquinho warns Galvão: “I’m going for the finish”
- Galvão vs Palhares: ADCC 2011 final rematch set for ACBJJ 23
- André Galvão signs with ACBJJ and fights in Rio in November
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