Rafael Lovato Jr. has etched his name into the history books once again…
This time by becoming the first athlete ever to win all four IBJJF major titles in both gi and no gi competition!
It’s nowhere near the first time Lovato Jr. has broken new ground in the sport.
Back in 2007, he introduced the idea of the IBJJF Grand Slam when he won all four gi majors – Europeans, Pans, Brasileiros, and Worlds – in a single year.
Though his early accolades came in the gi, Lovato Jr. didn’t stop there.
He added an IBJJF No Gi World title to his resume not long after, before shifting his focus to MMA.
And, well, that venture was equally historic, as he retired undefeated at 10-0, capturing the Bellator middleweight belt in the process.
A return bout years later, in Japan, added another submission win (via Kimura) to his record.
Even into his 40s, Lovato Jr. has remained one of the top competitors in the sport.
He claimed silver at ADCC 2024 in the under 99kg division, proving he’s still elite on the biggest stages.
And then?
Then came the next mission.
He took gold at the IBJJF No Gi European Championship in early 2024, followed by the No Gi Pans just two weeks later.
With those wins in hand, only two majors remained.
And 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.
With nothing left to prove on the IBJJF circuit, the question now is simple: what’s next for Rafael Lovato Jr.?
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