Lovato Jr wins World Jiu-Jitsu Masters Championship
Lovato Jr wins World Jiu-Jitsu Masters Championship
Rafael Lovato Jr wins World Jiu-Jitsu Masters Championship!
On the first day of the 2016 World Master BJJ Championship, Rafael Lovato Jr. was the most impressive fighter of all. The tournament, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, consisted of over 3600 competitors. The 4x BJJ champion won three matches to reach the finals to fight Eliot Kelly, who had just upset 7x World Jiu-Jitsu Champion and Lovato teammate Xande Ribeiro.
Finally, Lovato defeated Kelly by cross choke from the mount position in under 2 minutes to win his division. After winning gold among master-1 super-heavyweights, Lovato entered the prestigious Absolute (no weight limit) division and again came out on top.
Closes out division with teammate
In the absolute, Lovato fought three times, defeating Jefferson Santos with a wrist lock and ended up closing it out with Xande Ribeiro, who had scored 7-0 over Rafael Formiga in his semifinal match.
Cross collar choke from mount
Closing out a division at a major IBJJF event is extremely difficult to do. Since both fighters from the same team must make it to the finals. Xande and Lovato Jr. managed to pull this off. “It’s a dream come true!” is how Lovato described it.
In addition to that division, others fighter excelled. In other divisions, the master-2 age group, Vitor Shaolin stood out as he defeated four opponents to get lightweight gold. The master-1 group featured Romulo Barral, who won gold as he closed out the final with his teammate Roberto Tussa. Middleweights included Vitor Oliveira, who beat Gregor Gracie by decision to win the title.
Former UFC fighter and ADCC champion Vinny Magalhães defeated James Puopolo 1-0 on advantages to win at ultra-heavyweight. Featherweight Osvaldo “Queixinho†Moizinho won his division as he closed it out with his mate Diego Bispo.
Lovato Jiu-Jitsu
The Rafael Lovato Jiu-Jitsu team is one of the fastest growing teams in the United States. Lovato Jiu-Jitsu now boasts teams in Oklahoma, NJ, Texas, Oregon and Canada.
In you live in the NJ area and would like to join his team, contact the Savarese BJJ Academy in Lyndhurst NJ, their headquarters on the East Coast. For a free trial class, call 210 933-5134 to get started.
(photo credits: Luca Atella, Gracie mag, Adidas, Gameness)
