Rafael Lovato Jr. has added another remarkable achievement to his already historic career…
The Jiu-Jitsu legend won gold at the Freestyle Wrestling US Open 2026, continuing an impressive run in a sport he only began pursuing seriously later in life!
Unlike most elite wrestlers, Lovato Jr. didn’t come up through youth or collegiate wrestling systems.
His foundation was built in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, before transitioning into a successful MMA career.
While he always had strong stand-up skills by grappling standards, his wrestling truly began to evolve during his time competing in Bellator.
But recently, Lovato Jr. made an unexpected move: committing more than ever to wrestling.
Just for wrestling sake – not wrestling for BJJ, not wrestling for MMA, but wrestling for wrestling.
His progress has been rapid.
At the same tournament just one year ago, he posted a 5-1 record and earned bronze in his debut appearance – an already impressive result given the experience gap.
Now, just a year later, he’s taken the top spot on the podium.
What makes the achievement even more unusual is how far he’s pushed himself outside the norm.
Lovato Jr. even made his college wrestling debut at the age of 42, competing for Oklahoma City University against athletes in their prime.
Despite the odds, he won his first match and finished 2-1 on his opening day.
This latest gold medal is another example of his ability to evolve and succeed in new arenas, even after decades at the highest level of combat sports.
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