'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Eduardo Dantas has spent his career to this point splitting time between Bellator and Shooto Brazil. The 31-year-old Brazilian, Dantas, will now be looking for a new home. He has decided to leave the organization as a free agent. Actually, his loss to Juan Archuleta back at Bellator 222 was his last contracted fight for the company.
So, the first question that comes to mind is would Dana White sign the talented Bantamweight? The UFC's135-pound division is congested at the top. But as they say; the more the merrier.
Early in Eduardo Dantas' career, he seemed like a world-beater. He also sits in the record books for Bellator as the first Brazilian to win gold for the company. Dantas is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt. He climbed his way to the top of the Bellator mountain on two separate occasions.
In his decision to not take another contract and become a free agent, Eduardo Dantas spoke very highly of Bellator President Scott Coker. He also was blunt in what he wanted for his future:
"There's only one path, one thing that will make my heart pump harder and get me out of bed to work harder than ever, to use all my experience and my youth. And that's the UFC. That's the only path, the place where I would desire the most".
Eduardo Dantas, if signed by UFC would join four of his Nova Uniao teammates led by Jose Aldo. As a matter of fact, for all of Aldo's last five fights, Dantas has been his main sparring partner.
Eduardo Dantas may not be at the same level as Michael Chandler but if he signs with UFC, he may walk get a top 10 opponent for his first fight. With six of his 21 wins coming via submission, he would give Dominick Cruz at this point and even Jimmy Rivera a run for their money.
Dantas' recent run in Bellator didn't end so well. He lost his last three fights and was knocked out in two of them against Michael McDonald and Juan Archuleta respectively. His longest winning streak was seven and was filled with some highlight moments:
Eduardo Dantas did admit that he received an offer already but turned it down. He chose to decline the offer because it was for a "Featherweight Grand Prix". So with that knowledge, it can be assumed that he won't be joining ONE Championship.
