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Rafael Lovato Jr.

Black belt who swept four majors in 2007, lost a Bellator crown to a brain diagnosis, then became the first ever to sweep all four in no-gi too.

Biography

Rafael Lovato Jr. — born June 25, 1983, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised from age eight in Oklahoma City — got into jiu-jitsu almost by accident. As a child, he trained in boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Escrima, and Thai boxing under his father, a martial artist, and Richard Bustillo. At 13, his father introduced him to Brazilian jiu-jitsu; his father was already driving to Dallas once a week for private lessons with Carlos Machado, and as Rafael got older, he started making those trips himself. In 2003, at 19, that training carried him to the final of the Arnold Invitational, where he faced Saulo Ribeiro. Afterward, Ribeiro invited him to Brazil to train — an invitation that grew into a lasting friendship and, later, a coaching relationship. The following year brought another formative stretch: at the start of 2004, Lovato was asked to help Marc Laimon prepare for a fight against Ryron Gracie, and the two spent three months living together as training-camp roommates, a friendship that has held ever since. That August, just after he turned 21, Machado awarded Lovato his black belt. At the time, it made him the youngest American to hold one — and it made the Lovatos the first American father and son to both reach black belt. In 2005, Lovato moved permanently to train under Saulo and his brother Alexandre Ribeiro, and results followed quickly: he began reaching the podium at nearly every major tournament he entered. 2007 was the year it all came together. As a black belt, Lovato won the European Open, the Pan American, the Brazilian Nationals, and the World Championship, all in the same calendar year — the first time anyone had swept all four as a black belt. The Brazilian Nationals win also made him the first non-Brazilian champion in that tournament's history; six years later, in 2013, he became the first non-Brazilian to win its open-weight absolute division too. That 2007 Worlds title made him the second American ever to win an IBJJF black belt world championship, after BJ Penn. Much of the detail behind that early rise — the trips to Dallas, the Laimon camp, the record-setting stretch itself — comes from one detailed account, BJJ Heroes' profile of Lovato. Two things are confirmed independently of it: the black belt promotion, by his own site and by Elite Sports, and the four-title sweep itself, which he describes on his own site and which Wikipedia's own account of 2007 separately confirms. The academy behind that career belonged to his father first. Rafael Lovato Sr. opened the Lovato School of BJJ and MMA in Oklahoma City in 1993, originally teaching Jeet Kune Do, Thai boxing, and kickboxing under Richard Bustillo; it became the city's first Brazilian jiu-jitsu school, affiliated with the Ribeiro Brothers Association. Rafael Jr. now owns and runs the school; his competition team today carries a different name, the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association. Lovato eventually carried that career into mixed martial arts. As a professional, he went 11-0 between 2014 and 2019, with a brief return in 2022, finishing seven of his eleven wins by submission. On June 22, 2019, in London, Lovato won the Bellator middleweight world championship, outpointing Gegard Mousasi on a majority decision — a result that hid how close he had come to missing the cage entirely. Ahead of that fight, a scan of his brain, the first he had ever needed in his professional career, had turned up cerebral cavernoma, a cluster of abnormally formed blood vessels, and the first physician to see the result told him not to compete. Lovato did not accept that as the final word: he went to Brazil, kept training, and gathered more opinions, until a neurologist agreed that nothing in the evidence showed a blow to the head would make the condition worse — and cleared him to fight. He never got to defend the title. The fallout from London came fast: Safe MMA, Europe's medical regulator, decided Lovato should never have been cleared for that fight in the first place and shut the region to him, while a proposed rematch — Mousasi again, set for Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020 — never got past the California State Athletic Commission, which refused to sign off on it. Lovato did not go public about any of it until January 29, when he told the story on the Joe Rogan Experience. On February 10, without ever having defended the belt, he gave it up. Of the reign he had once hoped would last, he said only that "sometimes life has another plan." His career did not end with the vacated title. By 2025, Lovato had added all four IBJJF no-gi major titles to the four he had won in gi back in 2007 — the No-Gi European in 2024, the No-Gi Pan about two weeks later, an existing No-Gi World title, and the No-Gi Brasileiro that year — plus a silver medal at ADCC 2024 in the under-99kg division. No one had done it in both gi and no-gi before him.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, "Rafael Lovato Jr" fighter profile(opens in a new tab)

    • Lovato was born on June 25, 1983, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved to Oklahoma City at age 8.

      Where in the source: Rafael Lovato was born on the 25th of June of 1983 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America, though he moved to Oklahoma City when he was 8 years of age.

      Accessed:

    • Lovato's full name is Rafael Lovato Junior; his black belt lineage runs Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Carlos Machado > Rafael Lovato Jr.

      Where in the source: Full Name: Rafael Lovato Junior ... Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Carlos Machado > Rafael Lovato Jr

      Accessed:

    • At 13, Lovato began training BJJ through his father, who was taking weekly private classes in Dallas with Carlos Machado; as Rafael grew, he began joining those trips himself.

      Where in the source: When Rafael was 13 he started his tuition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through his father who was taking classes in Dallas from Carlos Machado. Lovato senior would travel to the Texan city once a week ... as he grew, Rafael Junior started joining his father on the trips to Dallas.

      Accessed:

    • At 19, in 2003, Lovato reached the Arnold Invitational final against Saulo Ribeiro; afterward Ribeiro invited him to train in Brazil, a visit that turned into a lasting friendship and, eventually, a coaching relationship.

      Where in the source: It was 2003 and Rafael had reached the final of the Arnold Invitational against Saulo Ribeiro, the two fought and at the end of the fight, Saulo invited Rafael to come and train with him in Brazil.

      Accessed:

    • At the start of 2004, Lovato was invited to help Marc Laimon prepare for his fight with Ryron Gracie; the two spent three months as training-camp roommates and formed a friendship that has lasted.

      Where in the source: At the beginning of 2004, Rafael Lovato was invited to help Marc Laimon prepare for his fight with Ryron Gracie. The two spent 3 months as roommates in that training camp, creating a strong friendship that still stands today.

      Accessed:

    • In August 2004, just after his 21st birthday, Lovato received his black belt from Carlos Machado, becoming the youngest American to hold a BJJ black belt at the time; he and his father became the first American father-son BJJ black belt pair.

      Where in the source: After that camp, Rafael received his black belt in Jiu-Jitsu in August 2004, just after his 21st birthday.

      Accessed:

    • In 2005 Lovato moved permanently to train under the Ribeiro brothers, Saulo and Alexandre, making the most of the new coaching by reaching the podium at most major tournaments he entered.

      Where in the source: In 2005 Rafael moved for good to the Ribeiro brothers academy (Saulo and Alexandre) and made the most out of the new coaching, reaching the podium of most major tournaments he set foot on.

      Accessed:

    • Lovato was the first non-Brazilian to win the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship at black belt (2007), and later the first non-Brazilian to win the absolute/open-weight division of the same tournament (2013).

      Where in the source: first by being the first non-Brazilian to win the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (2007) as a black belt, he would later rewrite his name in the tournament’s history books by conquering the open weight division (absolute), becoming the first non-Brazilian to achieve this deed also (2013)

      Accessed:

    • Lovato is a black belt affiliated with Lovato Jiu-Jitsu / Lovato BJJ.

      Where in the source: Team/Association: 6 Blades / Lovato BJJ

      Accessed:

  • Rafael Lovato Jr.'s official site, "Bio"(opens in a new tab)

    • As a child, Lovato trained boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Escrima and Thai boxing under his father, a martial artist, and Richard Bustillo.

      Where in the source: Rafael's path began by studying Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Escrima, Boxing, and Thai Boxing under his father and Richard Bustillo.

      Accessed:

    • In 2007, Lovato became the first person ever to win the European Open, Pan American, Brazilian National and World Championships at black belt all in the same calendar year.

      Where in the source: the first person ever to win the European Open Championships, Pan-American Championships, Brazilian National Championships (Brasileiro), and World Championships (Mundials) at the Black Belt level all in the same year!

      Accessed:

    • Lovato was the second American, after BJ Penn, to win the IBJJF World Championship at black belt, in 2007.

      Where in the source: he is the 2nd American, after BJ Penn, to win the World Championships as a Black Belt

      Accessed:

  • BJJEE, "Rafael Lovato Jr. Becomes First To Win All Four IBJJF Majors In Both Gi & No Gi", June 30, 2025(opens in a new tab)

    • In 2025, Lovato became the first athlete ever to win all four IBJJF major titles in both gi and no-gi competition — completing a double Grand Slam that began with his original 2007 gi sweep, by adding the No-Gi European (2024), No-Gi Pan (about two weeks later), an existing No-Gi World title, and finally the No-Gi Brasileiro in 2025. He also took silver at ADCC 2024 in the under-99kg division.

      Where in the source: This time by becoming the first athlete ever to win all four IBJJF major titles in both gi and no gi competition! ... He took gold at the IBJJF No Gi European Championship in early 2024, followed by the No Gi Pans just two weeks later ... after collecting the IBJJF No Gi Brasileiro title in 2025, he completed the cycle, by securing all four no gi majors to match his gi accomplishments.

      Accessed:

  • Elite Sports, "Lovato Jiu-Jitsu School's Legacy And History"(opens in a new tab)

    • The Lovato family's Oklahoma City school was founded in 1993 by Rafael Lovato Sr., initially teaching Jeet Kune Do, Thai boxing and kickboxing under Richard Bustillo, and was the first BJJ school in Oklahoma City, affiliated with the Ribeiro Brothers Association. Rafael Lovato Jr. is now its owner and head instructor.

      Where in the source: Lovato School of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts was initiated in 1993 by Rafael Lovato Sr. ... He was the first person to open a BJJ school in Oklahoma City with the affiliation of the Ribeiro Brothers Association. ... Rafael Lovato Junior is the current owner and head instructor of the Lovato School of BJJ and MMA.

      Accessed:

  • Wikipedia, "Rafael Lovato Jr."(opens in a new tab)

    • In mixed martial arts, Lovato compiled an undefeated 11-0 professional record between 2014 and 2019 (with a brief return in 2022), winning 7 of his 11 fights by submission.

      Where in the source: compiled an undefeated 11-0 professional MMA record between 2014-2019, with a brief return in 2022 ... winning 7 of 11 fights by submission

      Accessed:

    • Lovato first spoke publicly about the cavernoma diagnosis on January 29, 2020, in an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience.

      Where in the source: On January 29, 2020, while appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience, Lovato revealed that he was diagnosed with a brain condition called cerebral cavernoma, a condition where a group of abnormal blood vessels are formed, usually found in the brain and spinal cord

      Accessed:

  • Sherdog, "Rafael Lovato Jr. Vacates Bellator Middleweight Belt Due to Brain Condition"(opens in a new tab)

    • On June 22, 2019, in London, Lovato won the Bellator Middleweight World Championship, defeating Gegard Mousasi by majority decision.

      Where in the source: Despite the condition, he obtained clearance to fight Gegard Mousasi in London and won the middleweight title via majority decision.

      Accessed:

    • Lovato had medical clearance for the Mousasi title fight, but after London, Europe's Safe MMA regulatory body reversed its approval and barred him from competing in the region; a rematch with Mousasi was arranged for Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020, but the California State Athletic Commission declined to approve it.

      Where in the source: Europe's regulatory body (Safe MMA) reversed its approval, prohibiting him from competing in the region ... He agreed to give Mousasi a rematch at Bellator 238 on Jan. 25, but the California State Athletic Commission declined to approve the bout.

      Accessed:

    • On February 10, 2020, Lovato vacated the Bellator middleweight title without ever defending it, saying: "My journey with my team and family to become the Bellator middleweight world champion was incredible and something I will cherish forever. I dreamed of having a long reign as champion, but sometimes life has another plan."

      Where in the source: My journey with my team and family to become the Bellator middleweight world champion was incredible and something I will cherish forever. I dreamed of having a long reign as champion, but sometimes life has another plan.

      Accessed:

  • Sherdog, "Brain Condition Threatens Bellator Middleweight Champ Rafael Lovato Jr.'s Career" (quoting Lovato on the Joe Rogan Experience)(opens in a new tab)

    • Before facing Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 223 in June 2019, Lovato was required to undergo a brain scan for the first time in his professional career and was diagnosed with cerebral cavernoma, a cluster of abnormally formed blood vessels. The first doctor he saw would not clear him to fight; Lovato sought other opinions, including from a neurologist who found no evidence that head impact would worsen the condition and cleared him to compete.

      Where in the source: Prior to facing Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 223 this past June, Lovato was required to undergo a brain scan for the first time in his professional career. It was then that he was diagnosed with cavernoma ... he tells me that he did some research and he believes I have a disease called cavernoma ... you should not fight ... [neurologist] said ... I think it's fine for you to fight.

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2024ADCC 2024Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified2nd place-99 kgNo-giVerified
2022ADCC 2022Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified4th place-99 kgNo-giVerified
2017ADCC 2017Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified4th place-99 kgNo-giVerified
2013ADCC 2013Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified2nd place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2011ADCC 2011Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified4th place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2009ADCC 2009Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified4th place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2007IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org+100 kgGiVerified1st place+100 kgGiVerified

Lineage

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Trained under

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