Lovato stuns Mousasi to claim middleweight title at Bellator 223
Rafael Lovato Jr. outworked Gegard Mousasi to claim the middleweight title via majority decision in the main event of Bellator 223 in London on Saturday.
Lovato improves his professional mixed martial arts record to 10-0, while Mousasi drops to 45-7-2. The judges scored the bout 47-47, 48-47, and 48-47.
#AndNew - @LovatoJrBJJ gets the win and the belt at #Bellator223.
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 22, 2019
A very happy birthday indeed! pic.twitter.com/90d4e5p5dD
Lovato started the fight strong, taking down the 53-fight veteran on multiple occasions in the opening rounds. Mousasi rallied in the later rounds and even dropped his opponent in the fourth.
💪@Mousasi_MMA is showing why he's the champ in these championship rounds tonight.#Bellator223 pic.twitter.com/VSnbcSURtr
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 22, 2019
Mousasi had won eight straight before Saturday's loss. He held notable victories over Thiago Santos, Chris Weidman, and Rory MacDonald.