Gegard Mousasi hasn’t lost since 2015 and will look to extend his current winning streak to nine when he attempts to defend his middleweight title against undefeated Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 214.
The mixed martial arts organization announced the five-round bout will take place on the same Jan. 26 card that is set to be headlined by the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final between MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko and the promotion’s current light-heavyweight champion Ryan Bader.
Mousasi (45-6-2) is fresh off a dominant second-round technical knockout of Bellator’s current welterweight champion Rory McDonald. His other victories in the Bellator cage have been over former 185-pound champions Rafael Carvalho and Alexander Shlemenko.
The 33-year-old Dutchman’s streak dates back to his time in the UFC where he had defeated Thales Leites, Thiago Santos and Vitor Belfrot consecutively before avenging his loss to Uriah Hall and finishing former champ Chris Weidman before leaving for Bellator.
Lovato Jr. (9-0) submitted John Salter with a rear-naked choke at Bellator 205 in September to earn the title shot. The 35-year-old has submitted his opponent in six of his nine professional MMA bouts.
BREAKING
At #Bellator214 in L.A. Gegard @mousasi_mma will take on #1 contender Rafael @lovatojrbjj For the Bellator Middleweight Title! pic.twitter.com/MUGkw9oJzs
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 20, 2018
Rising star Aaron Pico is also slated to compete at Bellator 214 as he takes on Henry Corrales in featherweight action.
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