Illness Nixes Galvao-Dantas 2; Cheick Kongo-Vincius 'Spartan' New Bellator 150 Headliner

Bellator MMA bantamweight champion Marcos Galvao has been forced out of his title defense and rematch against former Nova Uniao teammate Eduardo Dantas on weigh-in day.

According to a press release from the promotion, the 33-year-old Galvao had been battle a non-disclosed illness throughout Bellator 150 fight week in Mulvane, Kan. After consulting with physicians, Bellator decided to pull its champ from Friday night's slated main event, with hopes of rescheduling the 135-pound title rematch in the near future.

After making weight inside the Kansas Star Arena on Thursday morning, the former Bellator titlist Dantas was paid his show money.

Galvao and Dantas, both Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts under Nova Uniao leader Andre Pederneiras, initially clashed over Dantas' Bellator bantamweight title in February 2013, where “Dudu” knocked out Galvao in the second round. Dantas dropped the title to Joe Warren at Bellator 128 in in October 2014, and in turn, Galvao pulled off one of 2015's best submissions to take the title from Warren, making the standout American wrestler scream out in a kneebar last March.

With the loss of the Galvao-Dantas rematch, Bellator 150's five-fight main card will now be headlined by heavyweight veteran Cheick Kongo's clash with Brazilian Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz.

Bellator 150 airs live on Spike, Friday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.