Eduardo Dantas

Eduardo Dantas
Born February 3, 1989
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other names DuDu
Nationality Brazilian
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
Division Bantamweight (135lbs)
Style Kickboxing
Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Team Nova União
Years active 2007-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 20
Wins 16
By knockout 4
By submission 6
By decision 6
Losses 4
By knockout 1
By decision 2
By disqualification 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Eduardo Dantas (born February 3, 1989) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Dantas has mostly fought for Shooto Brazil, where he has competed for the Shooto 132-pound world title. He is the former Bellator Bantamweight champion. Dantas is currently ranked as the #3 bantamweight in the world and the #1 bantamweight outside of the UFC by fightmatrix.com.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Background

Dantas trains with Nova União.[2] Dantas has also shown a tendency in his career to prefer the striking game.[3]

Shooto Brazil

After compiling a record of 3–1, including a win over Shooto champ Shinichi Kojima, Dantas main evented Shooto Brazil 5. Dantas attempted multiple striking techniques including flying knees, before finishing his opponent with punches to the stomach.[4]

Soon after, Dantas won the Shooto South American 132 lb title, which he owned up going into his fight against Ueda.[5]

Dantas would next compete for the Shooto 132-pound world title. At that time, his opponent, Masakatsu Ueda was ranked as the #2 bantamweight in the world.[6]

In a three round bout, Dantas was able to rock his opponent on a number of occasions, but suffered a point deduction after holding the ropes to prevent a takedown from Ueda. Dantas would go on to lose the bout 29–28, 29–28, 30–28.[7]

Dantas later bounced back with a TKO victory over Carlos Roberto in the second round.[8] This was followed by a submission victory at The Way of Shooto 3 in May 2010.[9]

Dantas was next set to defend his Shooto South American 132 lb Championship in a rematch with Luis Alberto Nogueira, but the bout was cancelled.[10]

Bellator Fighting Championships

In the fall of 2011, Dantas entered Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament. He defeated Wilson Reis via second round KO in the quarter-final round and Ed West by split decision in the semi-final round in order to advance to the finals.

In the finals, he defeated Alexis Vila via unanimous decision to become the tournament champion.

Eduardo challenged champion Zach Makovsky at Bellator 65 on April 13, 2012 for the Bellator Bantamweight title. He won the fight via technical submission in the second round.

In August 2012, Dantas faced Tyson Nam in a fight outside of Bellator. Dantas had been permitted by Bellator to fight against Nam, as the fight took place outside of the United States and wouldn't be aired on television in the U.S. either.[11] The two faced off at Shooto Brazil 33: Fight for BOPE II in an event that served as a fundraiser for the "Batalhao de Operacoes Policiais Especiais" (Special Police Operations Battalion), which was Rio de Janeiro's military special forces.[12] Although Dantas rocked Nam early with a knee, he was knocked out in the first round by a counter right hook after he rushed forward aggressively.[12]

On February 2013, Dantas defended his title against, good friend and team mate, Marcos Galvão at Bellator 89. He finished Galvão in the 2nd round via knock out.

It was reported that Dantas had injured his ankle and won't be able to return until 2014 to defend his belt against Rafael Silva.[13] It was announced on January 9, 2014 that Dantas will defend his belt against Rafael Silva on March 7, 2014.[14] However, Silva suffered a knee injury and was replaced by runner-up Anthony Leone.[15] Dantas successfully defended his title, winning via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Dantas was scheduled to face Bellator Season 9 Bantamweight Tournament winner Joe Warren at Bellator 118. However, Dantas suffered a head injury and withdrew from the bout. Rafael Silva then faced Warren for the interim title.[16]

Dantas faced Joe Warren in a title unification bout on October 10, 2014 at Bellator 128.[17] He lost the fight and bantamweight championship title via unanimous decision.

Dantas was expected to face Mike Richman on March 27, 2015 at Bellator 135.[18] However, the bout was removed from the fight card after Richman suffered an undisclosed injury.[19] The fight has been rescheduled and is expected to take place at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 16–4 Joe Warren Decision (unanimous) Bellator 128 October 10, 2014 5 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Lost Bellator Bantamweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–3 Anthony Leone Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 111 March 7, 2014 2 2:04 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Defended Bellator Bantamweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–3 Marcos Galvão KO (punches) Bellator 89 February 14, 2013 2 3:01 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Defended Bellator Bantamweight Championship
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–3 Tyson Nam KO (punch) Shooto Brazil 33: Fight for BOPE 2 August 25, 2012 1 1:36 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–2 Zach Makovsky Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 65 April 13, 2012 2 3:26 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won Bellator Bantamweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–2 Alexis Vila Decision (unanimous) Bellator 59 November 26, 2011 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Final
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–2 Ed West Decision (split) Bellator 55 October 22, 2011 3 5:00 Yuma, Arizona, United States Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–2 Wilson Reis KO (flying knee and punches) Bellator 51 September 24, 2011 2 1:02 Canton, Ohio, United States Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-2 Samuel de Souza Submission (armbar) Shooto - Brazil 20 December 11, 2010 1 0:20 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Defended Shooto South American 132 lb Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–2 Hiromasa Ogikubo Submission (rear-naked choke) The Way of Shooto 3 May 30, 2010 3 1:21 Tokyo, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–2 Carlos Roberto TKO (punches) Shooto Brazil 14 November 26, 2009 2 0:46 Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–2 Masakatsu Ueda Decision (unanimous) Shooto - Revolutionary Exchanges 1: Undefeated July 19, 2009 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan For the Shooto Featherweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Mauricio Antonio Santos Jr. Decision (unanimous) World Fighting Combat April 24, 2009 3 5:00 Camboinhas, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Luis Alberto Nogueira Submission (armbar) Shooto Brazil 9 November 29, 2008 2 1:41 Fortaleza, Ceara Won the vacant Shooto South America Featherweight (123 - 132 lbs.) Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 Juan Tessari Submission (rear-naked choke) Shooto Brazil 7 June 28, 2008 2 2:33 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–1 Hudson Rocha TKO (punches) Shooto Brazil 5 January 26, 2008 1 N/A Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–1 Shinichi Kojima Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Back To Our Roots 6 November 8, 2007 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 2–1 Aritano Silva Barbosa DQ (illegal soccer kicks) Cassino Fight 4 September 15, 2007 1 3:31 Manaus, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Fabio Oliveira Decision (unanimous) Shooto Brazil 3 July 7, 2007 3 5:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 William Porfirio Decision (unanimous) Shooto Brazil 2 March 24, 2007 3 5:00 Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro

[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Current MMA Rankings » Bantamweight". Fight Matrix. 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Pictures: The Nova Uniao Army". sherdog.com. January 19, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Top Shootors go back to their roots". sherdog.com. November 7, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Ribeiro impresses at Shooto Brazil". sherdog.com. January 28, 2008.
  5. ↑ "10 July Tussles Worth Watching". sherdog.com. July 2, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Sherdog official Mixed Martial Arts rankings (July 16, 2009)". sherdog.com. July 16, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Ueda holds off Dantas; Formiga upsets Kojima". sherdog.com. July 19, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Weekend rundown: Browning, Prangley, Clementi victorious". sherdog.com. November 30, 2009.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Eduardo Dantas". sherdog.com. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Title bouts added to Shooto - Brazil 20". sherdog.com. November 4, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Video: Bellator champion Eduardo Dantas knocked out by Tyson Nam in Brazil". mmamania.com. August 26, 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Tyson Nam knocks out Bellator champ Eduardo Dantas at Shooto Brazil 33". mmajunkie.com. August 26, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Eduardo Dantas sidelined with injury, will defend title against Rafael Silva in 2014". mmafighting.com. October 10, 2013.
  14. ↑ Staff. "Champ Eduardo Dantas vs. Rafael Silva set for Bellator 111 on March 7". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  15. ↑ Staff. "Anthony Leone Replaces Injured Rafael Silva, Faces Eduardo Dantas for Bellator Bantamweight Title". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  16. ↑ Al-Shatti, Shaun (April 27, 2014). "Eduardo Dantas suffers head injury, Joe Warren now meets Rafael Silva for interim bantamweight title at Bellator 118". MMA Fighting. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Eduardo Dantas vs. Joe Warren title fight headlines Bellator 128". mmafighting.com. September 8, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Bellator 135 Fight Card". bellator.com.
  19. ↑ Jason Floyd (March 9, 2015). "Mike Richman vs. Eduardo Dantas scratched from Bellator 135; L.C. Davis vs. Hideo Tokoro elevated from prelims to co-main event". themmareport.com.
  20. ↑ Brent Brookhouse (March 31, 2015). "Three bouts announced for Bellator 137, including Mike Richman vs. Eduardo Dantas". mmajunkie.com.

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