Gegard Mousasi makes the second defense of his Bellator middleweight championship when he meets Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 214.
Bellator’s return to Los Angeles at The Forum this coming January now has a second title fight announced. On Monday, Bellator announced via social media that middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi would defend his 185lb title for the second time against BJJ expert Rafael Lovato Jr.
🚨BREAKING🚨
At #Bellator214 in L.A. Gegard @mousasi_mma will take on #1 contender Rafael @lovatojrbjj For the Bellator Middleweight Title! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MUGkw9oJzs
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 20, 2018
Mousasi (45-6-2) currently stands as one of the top middleweights in the world. On an eight-fight winning streak, Mousasi has torn up the ranks in both the UFC and Bellator. With wins over Chris Weidman, Thiago Santos, Thales Leites, Alexander Shlemenko, Rafael Carvalho, and Rory MacDonald on his current run, ‘The Dreamcatcher’ is absolutely at his peak.
He’ll face another fighter at the top of his game, however, in Rafael Lovato Jr. (9-0), who has split his career between Legacy and Bellator. Joining the Bellator MMA middleweight division in 2017, his perfect record includes wins over Gerald Harris, John Salter, and Chris Honeycutt.
A standout in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Lovato owns an absolute treasure trove of medals from multiple tournaments.
Bellator 214 is also set to crown the winner of the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix when Ryan Bader takes on ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko. The winner will claim the vacant Bellator heavyweight championship. Mousasi vs. Lovato Jr. is expected to serve as the evening’s co-main event.
Also known as Bellator LA, Bellator 2014 takes place January 26 at The Forum in Inglewood, CA.
