Rafael Lovato Jr. once again reminded the world why he remains one of the most elite grapplers on the planet, earning a unanimous decision victory over Giancarlo Bodoni at ONE 173!
Both Lovato and Bodoni were making their ONE Championship debuts, and with the middleweight submission grappling title still vacant, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
A win here was a direct step toward becoming the division’s first champion.
At 42 years old, Lovato continues to defy every expectation placed on aging athletes.
Last year, he took silver in the under 99kg division at ADCC 2024, proving he could still hang with – and beat – the new generation.
Bodoni, meanwhile, entered the match riding the momentum of back-to-back ADCC titles in the under 88kg division, making him one of the most complete and dangerous grapplers alive.
Over the course of ten hard-fought minutes, Lovato controlled the exchanges, managed the pace, and imposed his game with veteran precision, earning a clear unanimous decision and delivering one of the most impressive wins of his modern career.
Beating an athlete of Bodoni’s caliber – and doing it decisively – positions Lovato squarely in line for a shot at ONE’s soon-to-be-created middleweight submission grappling title.
While Lovato’s victory was the night’s headline moment for grappling purists, ONE 173 had more to offer!
As Tye Ruotolo continued his rapid rise in MMA, submitting Shozo Isojima in the first round to improve to 2-0.
Ruotolo’s transition to MMA couldn’t be unfolding more impressively. He isn’t easing into the sport with low-risk matchups – he’s facing undefeated prospects from day one.
He submitted Adrian Lee in his MMA debut, and Lee was already 3-0 with a family pedigree steeped in championship experience.
Isojima was an even more dangerous opponent: undefeated at 6-0 and coming off a finish in his own ONE debut.
Yet Ruotolo made quick work of him, securing mount early and unleashing heavy ground-and-pound.
When Isojima turned away to escape, Ruotolo locked in a Rear Naked Choke and ended the fight moments later.
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