Bellator is looking to kick 2019 off with a bang.
Middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi is slated to defend his title on Jan. 26 in Los Angeles at Bellator 214 in a featured bout against undefeated jiu-jitsu ace Rafael Lovato Jr., the promotion announced Monday. The matchup will serve as the co-main event underneath Bellator’s heavyweight tournament grand prix finals between Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader.
Mousasi (45-6-2) has won eight straight contests stretching back to his UFC days and is a perfect 3-0 under the Bellator umbrella.