Palhares vows different result against Galvao in Battle Jiu-Jitsu rematch 14 years on

Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares has declared the result of his long-awaited rematch with Andre Galvao will go differently this time, pointing to the “Battle Jiu-Jitsu” ruleset — which permits strikes to the body — as the decisive factor when the two meet at ACBJJ 23 in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, 13 November.

The pair last crossed paths in the under-88-kilogram final at the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in Nottingham, England, where Galvao prevailed 9-4. More than a decade later, they squared off again — cordially — at a public face-off event on Barra da Tijuca beach on Tuesday alongside fighters from all 18 bouts on the card.

“It’s going to be another big fight, but this time punches and kicks are allowed, so the result will be different,” Palhares told Sherdog’s Marcelo Alonso after the face-off.

Not every confrontation at the beach was as measured. Former UFC lightweight Edson Barboza and Rashid Magomedov had a noticeably tense exchange, with Barboza explaining that the hybrid ruleset was central to his decision to take the fight.

“Most people see me only as a striker. I hope Friday I can show my grappling abilities,” Barboza said. “The possibility of using my kicks excited me to accept that invitation.”

Two no-gi bouts on the card were reshuffled late. Rodolfo Vieira will now face Andre Muniz — known as “Sergipano” — rather than his originally scheduled opponent, while Kelvin Gastelum steps in to meet Herdeson Batista.

ACBJJ 23 is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. local time at Carioca Arena in Rio de Janeiro, with 18 matchups spanning traditional jiu-jitsu, no-gi grappling, and Battle Jiu-Jitsu formats.