A second title fight has been added to Bellator’s first event of 2019.
Gegard Mousasi is set to defend his middleweight title for the second time against Rafael Lovato Jr., the promotion announced Monday evening. Mousasi vs. Lovato Jr. will serve as the co-main event of Bellator 214, which takes place Jan. 26 at The Forum in Los Angeles.
Mousasi defended the belt for the first time in September with a dominant second-round TKO over welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. The former UFC contender won the title with a quick stoppage of Rafael Carvalho earlier this year.
Mousasi is 3-0 under the Bellator banner; his run in the Viacom-backed promotion also includes a decision win over former 185-pound champ Alexander Shlemenko last year.