Gegard Mousasi vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. Preview
Bellator has built a reputation for headlining their events with legend vs legend matchups. In recent times the likes of Fedor, Chael Sonnen and Lyoto Machida have headlined cards and helped grow the Bellator brand.
However, if they wish to compete with the UFC in the long run, Bellator need to headline their events with world level mixed martial artists who are still in their prime. This weekend in London we get just that.
At Wembley arena this Saturday night two elite middleweights battle it out for the world title. An intriguing kick boxing vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu matchup between Gegard Mousasi and Rafael Lovato jr is set to captivate the British crowd.
Mousasi is widely considered as one of if not the best middleweights in mixed martial arts. A real veteran of the game who started his career in 2003, he has managed to stay at the pinnacle of the sport for an incredibly long period of time.
With one of the most impressive resumes in the sport, the Dutchman has picked up belts in Strikeforce, Cage Warriors, Bellator and has also picked up two belts at middleweight and light heavyweight in Dream.
After a career which has spanned the whole globe, Mousasi has put his skills on display for the whole world to see. It seemed destined that he would pick up the UFC title, and in a great run he defeated names such as Ilir Latifi, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort and Chris Weidman. However, after failing to be awarded a shot at the belt, Mousasi negotiated a deal with Bellator which the UFC failed to match.
Mousasi has been flawless during his stint in Bellator, after a victory against Alexander Shlemenko he was more than happy to fight for the strap in just his second fight in the promotion. He absolutely demolished the reigning champion Rafael Carvalho in just under four minutes to announce himself as the best by a distance in the middleweight division.
In one of the biggest fights in Bellator history, welterweight champion Rory McDonald stepped up to middleweight in a bid to become a two-weight world champion. His intentions didn’t match the reality as Mousasi displayed his superior size and skill to finish McDonald in the second round.
At this point it looks as if it will be almost impossible to rip the title away from Mousasi but one man looking to throw a spanner in the works is Rafael Lovato.
Lovato has an illustrious Jiu-Jitsu background and has picked up several gold medals including the world championships. Since his transition into MMA, he has produced an impeccable 9-0 professional record in which only one opponent has heard the final bell.
After picking up and defending the Legacy belt, he signed for Bellator after just four fights. He’s performed well in all five fights that he’s had under the Bellator promotional banner and, after a submission victory over John Salter, he was ready for Mousasi.
In a bout that’s incredibly intriguing fans wonder whether Mousasi can continue building on his already legendary calibre legacy or if Lovato can step up to the plate and continue his unbeaten run. With one man elite on the feet and the other on the ground, the main event of Bellator London is set to an interesting battle from a tactical perspective and most likely an entertainment one to.
