By FCF Staff

After defeating Joe Warren in March, Bellator bantamweight champ Marcos Galvao has his first title defense booked, as he’ll face Eduardo Dantas on October 23rd.

On Wednesday the promotion announced that the fight will headline Bellator 144, which will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Galvao (17-6-1) and Dantas (17-4) fought in February, 2013, and the latter won the bout via second round, knockout.

Since then, Galvao has won four straight, while Dantas has gone 3-1. Last October, Dantas was decisioned by Warren and lost the bantamweight title.

“I was thoroughly impressed with Galvao’s kneebar at Bellator 135 to capture the belt,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said in then official announcement. “Seeing how much that title win meant to him, by taking it back home to Brazil and visiting his mother’s grave, is really what mixed martial arts is all about to me. But Dantas showcased his desire to reach the top too by his performance against Mike Richman. I have no idea who is going to come out of Connecticut with the win, but I do know that those in attendance at Mohegan Sun Arena and those tuning in on Spike will be treated to a top-flight world title bout.”

As Coker alluded to, the main card for Bellator 144 will be broadcast on SPIKE.