Rafael Lovato showed the heart of a champion in winning the fight against Gegard Mousasi, at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday.
The 35-year-old jiu-jitsu standout from Cincinnati won the first two rounds, seemed to fade as Mousasi (46-6-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) rallied over the past two, but then Lovato (10-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) buckled down and smothered Mousasi over a tremendous final round to take the decision and the championship.
The judges’ scores were 47-47, 48-47, and 48-47 for a majority decision.
#AndNew – @LovatoJrBJJ gets the win and the belt at #Bellator223.
A very happy birthday indeed! pic.twitter.com/90d4e5p5dD
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 22, 2019
Bellator Europe 3
Rafael Lovato Jr. def. Gegard Mousasi via majority decision to win Bellator middleweight title (47-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Melvin Manhoef def Kent Kauppinen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Aaron Chalmers def. Fred Freeman via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:05
Bellator 223
Paul Daley def. Erick Silva via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
James Gallagher def Jeremiah Labiano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fabian Edwards def. Jonathan Bosuku via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Costello van Steenis def. Mike Shipman via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:34
Charlie Ward def. Justin Moore via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:23