10. He watched BJ Penn become the first non-Brazilian to win a World Championship

A bright eyed 16 year old Rafael flew to Brazil for the first time in his life to compete at the 2000 World Championships. Rafael was a blue belt and although didn't win his division that year, he witnessed history and told himself "that will be me one day".

9. He is a lifelong martial artist

Rafael and his father Rafael Lovato Sr were among the earliest American practitioners of Jiu-Jitsu but they also dabbled in a whole slew of other martial arts including kali (a form of stick fighting), Jeet Kune Do, Judo, and Muay Thai.

8. He isn't Brazilian!

With a name like Rafael, most assume the World Champion is of Brazilian descent but quite the contrary. Lovato Jr was born and raised in the United States. The name Lovato is actually Italian.

7. His father is a JKD blackbelt.

Born and raised in Chicago, Rafael Lovato Sr would find his way into martial arts through Jeet Kune Do, the martial art popularized by Bruce Lee. Richard Bustillo awarded him his JKD blackbelt and Carlos Machado awarded him his BJJ black belt in 2003.

6. He dropped out of college to pursue jiu-jitsu full time

Here is a quote from our upcoming documentary about Lovato's life: 

At that point I was thinking I needed to go to Brazil and stay there. That's where everything was. I wanted to be a World Champion, so I told my parents I don't think school is gonna be it for me. When I got to college my mind just went more and more into jiu-jitsu. So I dropped out.

5. He's still the only American to ever win the Absolute division at Brazil Nationals

In 2013 Rafael set out on a mission in Brazil. No Non-Brazilian had ever stood atop the Absolute podium at the Brazil Nationals and Rafael planned to change that. Here is his finals match against the Super Heavyweight Riccardo Evangelista:

4. He currently holds three title belts

          1. Legacy Middleweight Champion          
          2. Fight to Win NoGi Heavyweight Champion
          3. Fight to Win Gi Heavyweight Champion

3. He is the only American to win Euros, Pans, Brasileiros and Worlds in the same year

We've talked about Lovato's World Championship run here before but what often gets over looked is that Lovato hit a Grand Slam that year sweeping all the major IBJJF tournaments.

2. He fought his future mentor Saulo Ribeiro while still a brown belt

A 19 year old Rafael Lovato Jr, still a brown belt, fought his future mentor Saulo Ribeiro at a 2003 tournament. Saulo was so impressed with Lovato's game that he invited him to train together after the match.

1. He will be on FloGrappling all month long!

Lovato Jr. is the subject of our next FloFilm here on FloGrappling and will be the co-main event at Fight to Win Pro 11 versus Tanner Rice!




Episode One premieres August 18th right here on Flograppling!