Mica Galvao has just announced that he wants to compete in a gi match under Who’s Number One rules in a future event that the promotion stages, in order to bring more attention to that side of the sport. He isn’t actually alone either, as his training partner Diogo Reis voiced his support for the idea as well. It would certainly be an interesting prospect, but apparently the minds behind Who’s Number One are reluctant to stage a gi event or even a gi match on one of their regular cards.
It’s actually part of a growing sentiment among no gi competitors and fans, that gi competition is dying out because it is not a spectator-friendly as no gi competition. If there’s anybody that can prove that gi competition is just as exciting then of course, it’s Mica Galvao. He’s one of the most talented competitors of his generation and along with other young athletes like the Ruotolo brothers and Tainan Dalpra, he’s consistently exciting no matter what ruleset he’s competing under. There are many more competitors who manage to produce results for the fans as well, and there’s definitely more than enough to put together a full card of matches.
Mica Galvao announced the news that he was campaigning for a gi match on an upcoming Who’s Number One card in a post to his official Instagram account, and the translation can be found below:
“Gordon vs Sloth in his fourth time it’s sure to be a show with another great production by flograppling. I have a contract with flo today and I was invited to this event but I refused despite receiving a good scholarship to come and fight. After turning down I was invited to the April event and once again I declined again. The reason is simple I want to fight in (the gi) in WNO rules against a top (competitor) in my category but the production thinks (gi) fights don’t sell. Recently Gordon posted on his social media about his multi-dollar grappling contract and I saw multiple people saying he’s leveraging the sport. First I want to congratulate him on the great job he’s doing in the grappling front. It’s really turning a face and pulling everyone up. But I just want to warn you that traditional Jiujitsu (with gi) has a different reality.”
“The scholarships paid for the top champions aren’t even 10% of the amount Gordon announced for a grappling match. I’m not talking about athletes who are still running behind, I’m talking about athletes (regarded as gi) idols who earn much lower values than grappling athletes. So if grappling makes money and (the gi) stays away from this I don’t think the sport (JIUJITSU) is growing. There will be another edition of WNO in May and the card has not yet been defined. I said I wanna fight but I wanna fight in (the gi). As the highest reaching athlete of the new generation I feel responsible to not let tradition die, nor to be devalued and treated like second division. I could go over there and easily make my money too but I put myself in that responsibility. I don’t think the problem is the (gi), the problem is the rules that sometimes make the fights too boring to watch. Sloth and Gordon are definitely going to be p*ssed but aren’t there any kimono fights that would draw a crowd like this? I want your opinion . Would kimono fights at WNO rules be as interesting as grappling? What’s your opinion about this? Leave here in the comments what you think and which (gi) fights would have this prestige.”
