Rafael Lovato Jr. has made it official: his MMA career is over, the door fully closed – and he’s completely at peace with it.

The former Bellator middleweight champion was forced to vacate his title in 2019 after being diagnosed with a rare brain condition that prevented athletic commissions from clearing him to compete.
Years later, he returned for one final bout in Japan, submitting Taiga Iwasaki and retiring from MMA with a perfect 11-0 record.

Now 40 and a father, Lovato says that chapter has concluded exactly the way it needed to, as shared in an interview for MMA Fighting:

I was content and happy to have that one last fight, to say my goodbye.
I don’t feel like I have to fight or I’m missing out on anything…

I said my goodbye and I’m good there.

What hasn’t slowed down is his competitive fire in Jiu-Jitsu:

Still feeling good, still feeling like I’m getting better.

Getting to face all these young guys has been a lot of fun.

Lovato initially signed a one-match deal with ONE to face Bodoni earlier this year, but the bout fell through when the promotion relocated the card.
Now, after months of waiting, the matchup is finally happening – and Lovato hopes this is just the beginning:

This is just a one-time thing.

But hopefully I’ll walk away with a beautiful victory and they want to have me back…

Maybe we can set up a 205-pound title and really create a division on their grappling side.

For Lovato, competing in Tokyo again feels symbolic:

I’m super excited. This feels like destiny.

We were supposed to face each other earlier in the summer…
And then for it to fall into Tokyo makes it even more exciting, more special.

I love the Japanese culture, the energy, the martial arts spirit.

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