Rafael Lovato Jr will fight for Legacy 185lb title
Rafael Lovato Jr will fight for Legacy 185lb title
On April 22nd. Legacy FC returns to Oklahoma and the middleweight title will be on the line and Rafael Lovato Jr (2-0) is hoping to bring that belt home. He will fight in the main event of Legacy FC 54, meeting Marcelo Nunes (5-0) for the promotion’s 185-pound belt. Legacy 54 will take place April 22 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, Okla., near Tulsa. The main card will air on AXS TV. This will be the 1st time Nunes fights for Legacy FC. He turned pro in late 2013 and all five of his wins have come by first-round stoppage – including four by submission. He has won by a pair of armbars and a pair of chokes. Lovato has just two fights on his pro resume, both first-round choke wins. At Legacy FC 35, his pro debut, he tapped out Canaan Grigsby with an arm-triangle. And at legacy FC 46 this past October, he needed only 84 seconds to get Kevin Holland to tap to a rear-naked choke. You can see that fight here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vflVFllK7-o
His student Justin Rader also returns to Legacy on this card.
The Legacy FC 54 lineup includes:
MAINÂ CARDÂ (AXS TV, 10 p.m. ET)
- Marcelo Nunes vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. – for middleweight title
- Evan Thompson vs. Andrew Todhunter
- Charles Byrd vs. Trey Houston
- Bilal Williams vs. Ed Cline Jr.
- Derrick Adkins vs. Daryl Wilson
- Aaron Robinson vs. Justin Rader
About Lovato Jr
At just 21 years of age, Rafael Lovato Jr became the youngest American to receive a black belt in BJJ at that time. In receiving his black belt, Rafael also helped accomplish another feat, as he and his father became the first American father and son black belts. Rafael has has had many accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, becoming the most decorated American BJJ competitor ever. In 2007, Rafael achieved the incredible feat of winning the four most prestigious events in BJJ all in a row. First, he became the first American to win the Brazilian National Championships (Brasileiro) at blackbelt and the 2nd American, after BJ Penn of UFC fame, to win the World Championships as a BlackBelt. Rafael earned the prestigious BJJ competitor of the year award for 2007 for these accomplishments. Rafael is also one of the only American’s to ever be featured on the cover of the famous Gracie Magazine and was honored for his accomplishments when he was inducted into the prestigious Grapplers Quest Hall of Fame. If you live in NJ and would like to train with Lovato’s team, Call Professor Chris Savarese, who runs his association on the East Coast, at 201 933-5134 or email [email protected] for a free intro lesson.
