After just five years of professional MMA competition, Rafael Lovato Jr. accomplished an exceptional feat by winning the Bellator middleweight title from veteran Gegard Mousasi. The 36-year-old Saulo Ribeiro black belt earned a majority decision win, keeping his undefeated record intact.
While there are many other contenders for Lovato to face, he is already expecting Bellator to book an immediate rematch with Mousasi, which he also welcomes.
“If that’s what they want to do, I can’t blame them,” Lovato said in a post-fight scrum (via MMA Junkie). “It was an extremely close fight, and it is Mousasi.