‘He’s Very Complete’ — Rafael Lovato Jr. Breaks Down Tough Matchup Against Giancarlo Bodoni At ONE 173
At 42 years old, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu royalty Rafael Lovato Jr. is showing no signs of slowing down, and he’s hunting another highlight reel submission against one of the most dangerous grapplers on the planet today.
The most decorated American in the sport’s history will face Giancarlo Bodoni in a middleweight submission grappling showcase at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
At just 29 years of age, Bodoni has captured ADCC World Title gold twice — in 2022 and 2024 — becoming the first athlete to win back-to-back championships in the 88-kilogram division.
Since joining legendary coach John Danaher at New Wave in Texas, Bodoni has built a resume filled with wins over IBJJF and ADCC World Champions.
Lovato has studied Bodoni’s game closely, and his assessment reveals deep respect for the young star.
The fifth-degree BJJ black belt told onefc.com:
“He’s very complete. He can win on top, he can win on bottom. His wrestling is good. He also has very good defense. Even when he’s gotten into a little bit of trouble, he’s usually able to not just survive, but actually come back and either win or fire off some offense again.
“He doesn’t give up. Technically, he’s a big challenge. There are no real holes in his game. There are no real weaknesses.”
Despite going up against an athlete more than a decade his junior, Lovato believes his experience will make all the difference.
Lovato’s recent performances prove he remains elite even at this stage in his career. He earned ADCC silver in 2024 and, this past June, he became the first athlete to win all four IBJJF majors in both Gi and No-Gi.
His decades of delivering under pressure will be the key to stopping Bodoni’s rise:
“I expect it to be a very tough battle, a very technical battle. We’re both comfortable in all areas of the game. I couldn’t ask for a bigger challenge. Obviously, I have my strategy, and I have the things that I’ve seen, but I don’t expect it to be easy by any means.
“I’m ready to give my all, and I’m just as prepared as I possibly could be. I’m very confident as well that I will get the job done.”
With 76 of his 141 victories coming by submission, Lovato isn’t looking to simply outscore his opponent.
The BJJ icon has a game plan built around relentless pressure and capitalizing on the slightest mistakes. Bodoni may not have many weaknesses, but Lovato has made a career out of creating them in his opponents.
The Oklahoma native declared:
“I have a couple of attacks that I can bring him into a position where I can fire those off. Like I said, I don’t expect it to be easy to finish him. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen him get submitted.
“But I believe that by the time I get to a dominant position, I’ll have broken him down enough that I can at least get a good look at it.”
Lovato Aiming For Coveted ONE World Title
Beyond his countless accolades as a grappler, Rafael Lovato Jr. has also compiled a perfect 11-0 MMA record with nine finishes.
The 42-year-old considers himself a true martial artist who isn’t tied down to a single discipline. This makes him the perfect addition to the elite ONE roster.
Lovato feels grateful to compete among the very best in the world’s largest martial arts organization:
“It’s just beautiful. It’s something that I never imagined. I feel so grateful to have these opportunities and be a part of the growth of the sport to where it is today. ONE is just doing big things.
“They’re bringing together the top guys at our weight classes, putting together a big match, and it just makes me want to go there and give the best show possible.”
At this juncture of his legendary career, Lovato is chasing the one major accolade missing from a legacy already filled with IBJJF Grand Slams, ADCC medals, and an undefeated MMA reign.
A victory over Giancarlo Bodoni would position Lovato perfectly for a shot at ONE gold, should the promotion introduce a middleweight submission grappling World Title. It’s a belt the American icon is eager to pursue.
The Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu representative concluded:
“We’re gonna get this victory, and then I’m hoping that they might consider doing more titles in these other weight classes for grappling.
“Ideally, I get a beautiful big win and they want to have me back and let me go for a title fight in the next step.”
