Rafael Lovato Jr. First American BJJ Black Belt with Many Distinctive Records

Rafael Lovato is a Fourth Degree Black Belt in BJJ and also a retired undefeated MMA fighter (11-0). He was born on the 25th of June 1983 in Cincinnati, a city in the state of Ohio, USA. He is the first non-Brazilian to win CBJJ Brazilian Nationals twice as a Black Belt (2007) and open weight Champion in 2013.    

Rafael Lovato was born in the house of a famous martial artist. He was familiar with the lifestyle of an MMA practitioner from his early childhood. He got early MMA training from his father. He also received early BJJ training from his father.

Lovato Junior started his MMA career with boxing. He also learned Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Thai Boxing, Escrima, and Jeet Kwon Do. He also achieved titles in Escrima. Along with Escrima, he was also ready to make his debut in boxing.     

At the age of thirteen, Lovato observed his father doing something new. His father, Lovato senior, went to the Texan city and joined BJJ private class from Carlos Machado. He went to attend his private BJJ class once a week.

After returning from Dallas, he started training BJJ with his son, Lovato Junior. After a few years, he also joined his father and started going to Dallas every week.

When Lovato Junior was promoted to Brown Belt, he became one of the toughest athletes in BJJ. He became famous as a hot future prospect for BJJ.

At the age of 19, Rafael started fighting in the Arnold Invitational. He faced the multiple-time World Champion, Saulo Ribeiro in the final. After the fight, Saulo Ribeiro invited him to Brazil. Rafael accepted his invitation and went to Brazil that year and they trained together.

In Ribeiro’s Place, Lovato found his potential to do coaching. Furthermore, on his tour to Brazil, he also became a good friend of Saulo Ribeiro.

At the start of 2004, Rafael was invited by Marc Laimon to help him in his preparation. He had a fight against Ryron Gracie. He accepted this invitation and joined Marc Laimon. Both lived as roommates for three months. During those three months, Rafael Lovato made a strong friendship bond with Marc Laimon. Both are still friends.

After becoming Black Belt, Lovato went to Brazil to join Ribeiro Brother’s academy. He wanted to train here and learn BJJ. His stay in Ribeiro's brother’s academy proved very fruitful and he won medals in various tournaments. He won major tournaments during his stay in this academy.

Rafael Lovato is not only winning the tournaments in BJJ but is also unbeatable in MMA. He made his debut in MMA on September 26, 2014. He has a record of 11-0-0 in MMA with 82% finishes.

He was on an 11/0 win streak and never being defeated and submitted in MMA. Here is the complete MMA professional record of Rafael Lovato Junior.

After UFC, Bellator Fighting Championship also had his name among the top MMA fighters. Rafael Lovato Jr. is Bellator Middleweight World Champion. He earned this title after fighting against Gregard Mousasi in 2019. 

Rafael is honored to have this achievement that he was the first American who won IBJJF World and Pan Championship in the Juvenile Blue Belt division. At the age of 16, he won IBJJF Pan Champion in the Juvenile Blue Belt division.

Later in 2001, he became the first American to win 2 medals in the World Championship Juvenile Blue Belt division. He became a Bronze medalist in his weight division and Silver Medalist in Open Class.

In August 2004, Rafael was promoted to Black Belt at the age of 21 by his coach Carlos Machado. He became the youngest American BJJ Black Belt. Another title Rafael and his father achieved is that they are the first American father and son to become BJJ Black Belt.  

After BJ Penn, Rafael Lovato Junior earned the honor to become the second American IBJJF World Black Belt Champion. After this victory, he won various World Championships in Gi, No-Gi, and Masters championships. Now Lovato Junior is 8 times world champion. 

Rafael Lovato Junior became the first American who won the Brazilian National Championship twice. Rafael won his first Brazilian National Championship as a Black Belt in 2007 and became the first American to secure the win twice in the different weight category.

Rafael again won this title in 2013 when he submitted 3 of his opponents out of 5. He submitted his opponents in the semi-finals and final with Kimura. He was the first non-Brazilian who won this championship in the absolute weight division. Rafael was crowned as the best fighter in Brazil.

Rafael Lovato Junior became the first person to win the Grand Slam in 2007 after winning four major championships. He was the first American to win a European championship, Brazilian National, and IBJJF Pan Championship in the same year.

He also won the World Championship the same year and became the second American after BJ Penn to achieve the milestone.

Lovato Junior added his name to the history of BJJ by winning in the first-ever Metamoris event. He submitted Kayron Gracie with his favorite Kimura technique. He achieved the submission of the night award on this submission.

Rafael Lovato Junior is the most decorated American BJJ competitor who is famous for his toughness. He won major championships including the European Championship, IBJJF Pan Championship, and Brazilian National Championship twice. Furthermore, he is the youngest American athlete to achieve BJJ Black Belt.

Rafael Lovato is honored to have this record that he is the only person to win No-Gi championships thrice in different weight categories. In 2010.

• He became the heavyweight No-Gi world champion. 
• In 2011, he won the No-Gi world championship in the medium-heavy weight division.
• In 2013, he was the No-Gi world champion in the ultra-heavy division.

In 2009, Rafael received another achievement because of his long list of accomplishments. He was inducted into the Grappler Quest Hall of Fame.

Lovato Junior is now the owner, head, and instructor in his own Lovato’s school of BJJ and MMA in Oklahoma City, USA. He is training IBJJF World and Pan (Gi and No-Gi), ADCC, and UFC fighters.

Rafael Lovato Junior is a very humble, courteous, and meek person who wanted to share his knowledge in any way. Rafael Lovato is very passionate about transferring his knowledge to the young generation. He also started his online instructional classes for those BJJ competitors who cannot join big schools.

Lovato’s school of BJJ and MMA is producing great competitors. He is the first instructor in America whose Black Belt students are winning World Championships. In 2010, Lovato’s first Black Belt student Justin Rader won the world No-Gi championship in the featherweight division.

James Puopolo also got his Black Belt under Rafael Lovato Junior. He is also a World and Pan champion in Gi and No-Gi in both colored and Black Belt divisions. He is also the ADCC U.S. Trials champion.

Rafael Lovato faced Kayron Gracie in the first-ever Metamoris event in 2012. This was one of the most memorable matches for both players. At the start of the match, Rafael applied pulling guard and took down Kayron.

Rafael tried to control both of his legs to prevent full guard. But Kayron Gracie took down Rafael by pulling his Gi from his legs and secured the top position. This was an incredible sweep from Kayron Gracie.

Lovato tried to create distance by using his legs and tried an inverted guard. Kayron side-mounted Rafael but Rafael pulled him down by strangling his legs. Kayron looked helpless. Rafael gained the top position and his body weight pressure did not let Kayron Gracie's inverted guard to work.

Rafael took the top position, turned Kayron into a turtle position, gained control of his back, and applied a triangle. And then this triangle changed into full guard. These all moves in a single minute were fascinating but Kayron’s way of surviving the technique was also a feast for the eyes.

At the end of the match, Rafael took down Kayron. Kayron tried to keep distance by using his legs. Rafael did not let him sweep any guard and had complete control. He submitted Kayron Gracie with Kimura. After this match, Rafael Lovato Jr. achieved the submission of the night award.

Rafael Lovato Junior faced Rodrigo Teixeira in the Pan Championship 2007. Both fighters looked highly energetic from the start of the match. Rafael took down Rodrigo which was inverted by Rodrigo. Rodrigo took the top position and two points for the takedown. Lovato Junior balanced his position by holding Rodrigo’s Gi and pulled him down. Now Lovato Jr. secured the top position.

In the next half of the match, Lovato Jr. was taken down by Rodrigo at the start. But Rafael maintained his balance and pulled down Rodrigo by strangling him with his Gi and scored two points for an outstanding takedown. Rafael full-mounted Rodrigo. Rodrigo tried his best to escape but Lovato Jr. did not lose his grip. He submitted Rodrigo with Brabo Choke.

Rafael Lovato Jr. fought with Hunter Colvin in Oklahoma City Open 2020. At the start of the match, Rafael took down Hunter Colvin and scored two points. He mounted him and restricted his moves. Hunter Colvin tried to escape. When Rafael’s grip was a little loose, Hunter found this a golden chance and pushed Rafael to escape.

In the next half of the match, Hunter made an attempt to apply a pulling guard and ended up in a position with Rafael on top. Rafael Lovato Jr. took this opportunity and mounted Hunter. He submitted Hunter Colvin with Mounted X Choke.

Rafael Lovato Junior faced Todd Walling in Oklahoma City Open No-Gi 2021. At the start of the match, Lovato Junior took down Todd Walling and scored two points. Lovato Junior controlled Todd Walling and mounted him. Todd tried to strangle Lovato Junior’s leg but Lovato passed his guard and scored three points.

Todd Walling tried throughout the match to counter Lovato Jr but Lovato did not provide any opportunity. Rafael Lovato submitted Todd Walling with an Ezekiel choke.

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Photo Credit: @lovatojrbjj