Tag Archives: Rafael Lovato Jr.

OFFICIAL FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR 250: MOUSASI VS. LIMA

COMPLETE EVENT PHOTOS
 
Bellator 250: Mousasi vs. Lima Main Card:
Gegard Mousasi (47-7-2) defeated Douglas Lima (32-8) via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Henry Corrales (18-5) defeated Brandon Girtz (16-10) via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)
Dalton Rosta (4-0) defeated Ty Gwerder (5-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
 
Preliminary Card:
Jake Hager (3-0, 1 NC) defeated Brandon Calton (2-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Sabah Homasi (14-8) defeated Bobby Voelker (33-14) via knockout (punches) at :20 of round two
Johnny Eblen (7-0) defeated Taylor Johnson (6-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Adam Borics (15-1) defeated Erick Sanchez (9-6) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Cody Law (1-0) defeated Orlando Ortega (0-1) via submission (D’Arce Choke) at 2:41 of round one
 

DOUGLAS LIMA SEEKS DOUBLE CHAMP STATUS AGAINST GEGARD MOUSASI IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SUPERFIGHT ON SATURDAY, MAY 9 INSIDE SAP CENTER AT SAN JOSE

BATTLE FOR VACANT BELLATOR MMA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AIRS LIVE ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AND DAZN AT 10 P.M. ET/9 P.M. CT

Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 14

 

LOS ANGELES – A middleweight superfight for the vacant 185-pound title, pitting former divisional champion Gegard Mousasi (46-7-2) against current Bellator welterweight titleholder Douglas Lima (32-7), has been added to Bellator’s exciting return to SAP Center at San Jose on Saturday, May 9 – LIVE on Paramount Network and DAZN at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

 

The event is anchored by a previously announced heavyweight world title bout, featuring two-division Bellator champ Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound title against Russia’s Vadim Nemkov (11-2).

 

Bellator: Bader vs. Nemkov airs live on Paramount Network and DAZN on Saturday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. Preliminary action will stream on DAZN, Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets can be purchased at the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Ticket Office at SAP Center, through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

 

The Bellator middleweight title was recently relinquished by Rafael Lovato Jr. due to ongoing medical complications.

 

Fighting out of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Mousasi has cemented legendary status within the sport, having won titles with multiple promotions across a 55-fight career. Most recently, Mousasi defeated Lyoto Machida via split decision, clearing his path to a shot at a second Bellator middleweight title run. With victories in his storied career against Machida, Rory MacDonald, Chris Weidman, Rafael Carvalho, Vitor Belfort, Jacare Souza, Dan Henderson and Mark Hunt, a victory over Douglas Lima will add to his already-impressive resume.

 

Looking to join the ranks of Ryan Bader and Patricio “Pitbull” as two-division champions, Lima moves up 15-pounds to try his hand against Mousasi. Since making his promotional debut in 2011, “The Phenom” has earned 14 victories, including a trio of world titles and 10 finishes, making the American Top Team-product one of the most dominant fighters in the 170-pound division. With 26 of his 32 career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, including consecutive dominant finishes over Andrey Koreshkov and Michael “Venom” Page” in the first two rounds of the World Grand Prix tournament, Lima most recently capped of his 2019 with a win over Rory MacDonald to regain the welterweight world title.

 

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

 

Updated Bellator: Bader vs. Nemkov Main Card:

Paramount Network and DAZN

10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT

 

Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) vs. Vadim Nemkov (11-2)

Middleweight World Title Bout: Gegard Mousasi (46-7-2) vs. Douglas Lima (32-7)

 

*Card subject to change

 

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

 

BELLATOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION RAFAEL LOVATO JR. RELINQUISHES TITLE DUE TO ONGOING MEDICAL ISSUES

LOS ANGELES – Following the medical complications that were publicly disclosed by Rafael Lovato Jr. (10-0) late last month, the Bellator middleweight champion has decided to relinquish his 185-lb world title. The unbeaten Lovato Jr. defeated former champ Gegard Mousasi to win the title at Bellator 223 in London on June 22, 2019.

 

“My journey with my team and family to become the Bellator middleweight world champion was incredible and something I will cherish forever,” said Lovato Jr. “I dreamed of having a long reign as champion, but sometimes life has another plan. Bellator has been very supportive during this difficult process, a situation that has never really happened before in our sport. I know the division must move on while I am on the sidelines and I wish everyone great fights on their way to that belt. I will be working to come back if it is possible – and if not, life will continue to be amazing for me and I look forward to working with Bellator in another fashion.”

 

“This has been an incredibly challenging time for Lovato Jr., his team and his family at home,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “He is a true warrior of the sport and I cannot say enough about him for making such a difficult decision. His health is the priority for us and we will continue to work with him on addressing the next steps in his career.”

 

Bellator will announce plans for the vacant middleweight title in the coming days.

 

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

TWO TITLES ON THE LINE AT BELLATOR 214 IN L.A. ON JANUARY 26

 

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GEGARD MOUSASI DEFENDS BELLATOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST UNBEATEN RAFAEL LOVATO JR.

 

LOS ANGELES – The co-main event of Bellator’s return to the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on Jan. 26 will see reigning middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi (45-6-2) defend his title against undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rafael Lovato Jr. (9-0).

 

 

 

The main event of the card will feature the Finals of the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix, where the greatest heavyweight of all-time Fedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) faces current light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader (26-5) for the Bellator world heavyweight title. A recently added featherweight bout will pit super-prospect Aaron Pico (4-1) against the always-tough Henry Corrales (16-3). Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

 

 

Tickets for Bellator 214: Fedor vs. Bader are on sale now and can be purchased at the Forum box office, as well as Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and will be simulcast live on DAZN. Preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.

 

 

 

Fighting out of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Gegard Mousasi will be looking to follow-up his decisive TKO victory over Rory MacDonald at Bellator 206 in what will be his second title defense since becoming champion earlier this year. “The Dreamcatcher” is currently in the midst of an impressive eight-fight win streak that dates back to 2016. The 33-year-old judo black belt has dominated the stacked middleweight class since signing with Bellator in 2017, collecting three victories in as many bouts, including a pair of knockouts against Rafael Carvalho and MacDonald in both of his world title fights. The former Strikeforce champion, who debuted in impressive fashion against Alexander Shlemenko, now looks to extend his current win streak and defend the middleweight belt for the second time in just five months.

 

 

 

Rafael Lovato Jr. will be making his sixth appearance for Bellator, a bout where not only will the 35-year-old’s unblemished mark of 9-0 be on the line, but also a world championship belt. Since signing with the Viacom-owned promotion in 2017, the Oklahoma City-based fighter has tallied five wins and four finishes, three of which came in the opening round, including his most recent submission win over top middleweight contender John Salter at Bellator 205. A fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the former Legacy FC middleweight champ will finally have his shot at Bellator gold when he takes on current 185-pound champion Mousasi in the co-main event of Bellator’s return to Los Angeles on Jan. 26.

 

 

 

Updated Bellator: Fedor vs. Bader Fight Card:

 

 

Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1NC) vs. Ryan Bader (26-5)

Middleweight World Title Bout: Gegard Mousasi (45-6-2) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. (9-0)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Aaron Pico (4-1) vs. Henry Corrales (16-3)

 

 

 

Updated Preliminary Card:

 

 

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Segura (9-6) vs. Richard Leroy (7-1)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jorge Juarez (3-0) vs. David Pacheco (Pro Debut)

 

 

 

*Card subject to change

 

 

 

For more information, please visit Bellator.com.

OFFICIAL BELLATOR 205: MCKEE VS. MACAPA RESULTS & PHOTOS

 

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Bellator 205 Main Card Results:

 

 A.J. McKee (12-0) def. John Macapa (21-4-2) via KO (punch) at 1:09 of round one

 

Photos Here

 

Rafael Lovato Jr. (9-0) def. John Salter (15-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:27 of round three

 

Photos Here

 

Veta Arteaga (5-2) def. Denise Kielholtz (2-2) via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:24 of round two

 

Photos Here

Patricky Pitbull (20-8) def. Roger Huerta (24-11-1, 1 NC) via KO (punches) at 0:43 of round two

 

Photos Here

 

Preliminary Card Results:

Adam Borics (8-0) def. Josenaldo Silva (25-7) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:46 of round three

Steve Mowry (5-0) def. Ben Moa (4-1) via submission (Americana) at 2:40 of round one

Jarod Trice (4-0) def. Sean Powers (9-7) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Emilio Trevino (3-0) def. Sua Tuani (2-1) via TKO (punches) at 1:55 of round two

Vince Morales (8-2) def. Justin Hugo (3-5) via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 29-27)

Johnny Nunez (7-1) def. Josh Wick (9-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Andrew Cruz (4-3) def. Nathan Stolen (8-4) via submission (arm bar) at 3:41 of round one

Kyle Frost (3-0) def. David Rangel (0-2) via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:29 of round one

Bryce Edminister (2-1) def. Leon Taylor (0-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:34 of round two

Stephen Stirewalt (2-0) def. Joe Aguirre (2-1) via submission at 2:13 round one

 

 

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