Rafael Lovato Jr.’s submission of Gerald Harris at Bellator 198 made it three straight subs to open the main card in Chicago.
The best laid plans. On Saturday, Rafael Lovato Jr. took on Gerald Harris at Bellator 198. Harris, however, was coming off the couch, out of a short lived retirement. He was filling in for John Salter, who dropped off the card just a few days back due to injury. That set UFC and WSOF veteran Harris on a collision course with one of the best BJJ experts in the game in Lovato Jr.
Lovato Jr. launched a jump knee early in this main card bout, only to slip and have Harris follow him down. A ballsy move by Harris, given Lovato’s grappling prowess. Lovato soon had an arm, and was threatening with a triangle as well, but he finally settled for the arm-bar and made no mistake. Gerald Harris attempted to roll through, but at just over the one minute mark, Harris was forced to tap! Like Neiman Gracie earlier in the night, Rafael Lovato Jr. remained perfect, moving to 8-0 with seven finishes. For Harris, meanwhile, it was his first time tapping out in a thirty-plus fight career.
“If it’s on the ground, it’s my world. I’m not being cocky, I just feel like I’m on another level when it comes to the ground game,” Lovato Jr. said after the fight. “It’s my goal, my dream to be the Bellator champion. As soon as possible, I want to go for that belt.”
Rafael Lovato Jr. def. Gerald Harris by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 1:11
