Even though he was unsuccessful in getting a victory in his last fight, Carlos Eduardo was placed into the 2014 Bellator Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament and he will meet Egidijus Valavicius tomorrow night at Bellator 121 in an opening round bout. 
Prior to losing to Rodney Wallace at Bellator 116, the Nova Uniao product had won nine in a row and his last defeat came in 2008 against now current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
During that nine fight winning streak, four of the victories came by submission and three of those wins came in the first round. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Eduardo believes his submission abilities are what separates him from the rest of the fighters in the Bellator light heavyweight division.
Eduardo (11-3) had visions of being placed into this tournament once he signed with Bellator. He knew that once he was placed into the tournament, he was three wins away from securing a title shot and making his dreams come true of being a world champion.
“This tournament is a huge opportunity for me because it allows me to move that much closer to the belt,” Eduardo said. “After I win this tournament I will earn my title shot and I will me that much closer to realizing my dream of becoming a world champion. This tournament is what all my sacrifices and hard work has been leading to. This is it for me. I’m going to show the world why they call me the “Big Dog”. One step at a time, I will move closer to my title shot. I’m coming for that belt.”
His opponent tomorrow night at Bellator 121 made an immediate impact in Bellator earlier this year as Valavicius (26-10) scored the ninth fastest victory in Bellator light heavyweight division history as he defeated Atanas Djambazov by knockout at Bellator 110.
“Egidijus Valavicius has very heavy hands,” Eduardo said. “He also has that Eastern Europe toughness so many of those fighters are known for. I’ll have to be at my best to beat him, and I plan to be.”
The heavy hands and knockout power of Valavicius is what makes him an unique opponent according to Eduardo. A key for him will to be aware of the punches of Valavicius, but he knows his advantage in this fight is on the ground. Valavicius has lost five of his ten fights by submission and it’s not secret for Eduardo, he is looking to win this fight by submission.
“I know I’ll have an advantage over him when the fight goes to the ground,” Eduardo stated. “My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission ability will be my biggest weapons in this fight. I’m coming out there to submit him. It’s no secret.