Latest Lovato Jr News
- BJJ Legend Rafael Lovato Jr. Set to Face IBJJF No-Gi World Champion Pawel Jaworski at ONE Fight Night 47 July 31, 2026
Profile
- Born: June 25, 1983 — Cincinnati, Ohio
- Based in: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Rank: Black belt (awarded August 2004, under Carlos Machado)
- Affiliation: Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu (Saulo and Alexandre Ribeiro)
- Team/school: Head instructor, Lovato’s School of BJJ & MMA (Oklahoma City)
- BJJ competitive record: Active black-belt competitor since 2004, gi and no-gi
- MMA record: 11–0, retired; former Bellator Middleweight World Champion
Career Timeline
1996 — Introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 13 by his father, after earlier training in boxing and Filipino martial arts.
2000 — Wins the Pan American Championship, juvenile blue-belt division, at age 16.
2004 — Awarded his black belt by Carlos Machado in August, shortly after turning 21.
2007 — Wins the IBJJF World Championship at black belt, becoming the second American man to do so. Also takes the European Open, Pan American, and Brazilian Nationals (Brasileiro) titles the same year, and becomes the first non-Brazilian to win the Brasileiro at black belt.
2010 — Wins the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, black-belt heavyweight division.
2013 — Becomes the first non-Brazilian man to win the Brazilian Nationals open-weight (absolute) division. Takes silver at the ADCC World Championship later that year.
2014 — Makes his professional MMA debut on September 26.
2019 — Wins the Bellator middleweight title by decision over Gegard Mousasi.
2020 — Steps away from MMA competition after being diagnosed with cavernoma, a rare brain condition. Retires from MMA with an 11–0 record.
2022 — Finishes 4th at the ADCC World Championship, −99kg division.
2024 — Wins silver at the ADCC World Championship, −99kg division.
2025 — Wins gold at the IBJJF No-Gi Brasileiro Nationals, becoming the first competitor to win every IBJJF major title at adult black belt across both gi and no-gi.
Major Titles
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | IBJJF World Championship | Gold |
| 2007 | IBJJF European Open | Gold |
| 2007 | IBJJF Pan American Championship | Gold |
| 2007 | CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (Brasileiro) | Gold — first non-Brazilian winner |
| 2010 | IBJJF No-Gi World Championship | Gold, heavyweight |
| 2013 | CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, Absolute | Gold — first non-Brazilian winner |
| 2013 | ADCC World Championship | Silver |
| 2022 | ADCC World Championship (−99kg) | 4th place |
| 2024 | ADCC World Championship (−99kg) | Silver |
| 2025 | IBJJF No-Gi Brasileiro Nationals | Gold |
MMA Record
- Record: 11 wins, 0 losses
- Debut: September 26, 2014
- Title: Bellator Middleweight World Champion (2019, def. Gegard Mousasi)
- Status: Retired following a 2020 cavernoma diagnosis; medically cleared, has not returned to competition
Personal
Lovato lives in Oklahoma City, where he is head instructor at Lovato’s School of BJJ & MMA. He is married to Diana Saldana; the couple has twins, Lorenzo and Mila.