Rafael Carvalho

Rafael Carvalho
Born Rafael Carvalho de Souza
(1986-07-27) July 27, 1986
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other names The Blessed
Nationality Brazilian
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Division Middleweight
Reach 78.0 in (198 cm)[1]
Fighting out of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Team Madison Team
Siam Team MMA College
Noguchi Team
LA Sports
Years active 2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 15
Wins 14
By knockout 11
By decision 3
Losses 1
By submission 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Rafael Carvalho de Souza[1] (born July 27, 1986) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the middleweight division of Bellator MMA. He is the current Middleweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

First loss and rebound

Carvalho made his professional mixed martial arts debut against Julio Cesar Araujo Fernandes on December 17, 2011 at Samurai FC 6. Carvalho lost the fight via submission in the first round. Following the loss, Carvalho went on a nine-fight unbeaten streak that included a unanimous decision win over Gustavo Machado that won him the Smash Fight middleweight championship, before signing with Bellator MMA.[2]

Bellator MMA

Road to Bellator middleweight title

Carvalho was expected to make his promotional debut against fellow newcomer Anthony Ruiz on September 19, 2014 at Bellator 125.[3] However, after an injury to Brett Cooper, Carvalho stepped up and faced Brian Rogers in the co-main event.[4] Despite being a significant betting underdog, Carvalho won the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the first round.[5]

Carvalho faced kickboxing veteran Joe Schilling on April 10, 2015 at Bellator 136. He won the fight by split decision.[6]

Bellator middleweight champion

Carvalho faced Brandon Halsey in the main event at Bellator 144 for the vacant Bellator Middleweight Championship on October 23, 2015. Carvalho stopped Halsey via a body kick in the second round in an upset. Halsey dominated the first round on the ground; almost finishing Carvalho with an arm-triangle choke. With the comeback victory, Carvalho became the first fighter to defeat Halsey.[7]

Carvalho made his first defense of his title against Melvin Manhoef on May 20, 2016 at Bellator 155. He won via a controversial split decision to retain the Bellator Middleweight Championship. Bellator announcer Jimmy Smith called it one of the worst decisions he had ever seen; likewise 5 of 5 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Manhoef.[8]

An immediate rematch with Manhoef was scheduled to take place at Bellator 168, on December 10, 2016.[9] However, Carvalho pulled out of the fight due to injury.[10] The rematch eventually took place on April 8, 2017 at Bellator 176. Carvalho won the bout via knockout due to a head kick in the fourth round.[11] Following the event, Carvalho was fined $5,000 by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) for unsportsmanlike conduct, due to jumping out the cage in his post-fight celebration.[12]

In a May 2017 interview with MMAfighting.com, Carvalho expressed interest in a bout with newly signed welterweight Rory MacDonald after the two exchanged words on Twitter. In addition, he hoped to make his next title defense in July or August.[13]

In June 2017, it was reported by MMA Today that Carvalho will defend his title against Alessio Sakara in December.[14] The bout will take place at Bellator 187 on December 9.[15]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
14–1 Alessio Sakara Bellator 187 December 9, 2017 Florence, Italy Defending the Bellator Middleweight Championship
Win 14–1 Melvin Manhoef KO (head kick) Bellator 176 April 8, 2017 4 3:15 Torino, Italy Defended the Bellator Middleweight Championship.
Win 13–1 Melvin Manhoef Decision (split) Bellator 155 May 20, 2016 5 5:00 Boise, Idaho, United States Defended the Bellator Middleweight Championship.
Win 12–1 Brandon Halsey TKO (body kick) Bellator 144 October 23, 2015 2 1:42 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Won the vacant Bellator Middleweight Championship.
Win 11–1 Joe Schilling Decision (split) Bellator 136 April 10, 2015 3 5:00 Irvine, California, United States
Win 10–1 Brian Rogers TKO (punches) Bellator 125 September 19, 2014 1 3:06 Fresno, California, United States
Win 9–1 Mauri Roque TKO (knee to the body and punches) Talent MMA Circuit 9: Sao Jose dos Pinhais 2014 May 10, 2014 1 2:47 São José dos Pinhais, Brazil
Win 8–1 Sergio Souza TKO (knee to the body and punches) Iron Fight Combat 4 September 7, 2013 3 2:15 São José dos Pinhais, Brazil
Win 7–1 Gustavo Machado Decision (unanimous) Smash Fight 2 July 13, 2013 3 5:00 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Won the Smash Fight middleweight championship.
Win 6–1 Fernando Scherek TKO (punches) Adventure Fighters Tournament 4 March 9, 2013 1 0:39 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win 5–1 Kaue Dudus TKO (punches) Samurai FC 9: Water vs. Fire December 15, 2012 2 3:48 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win 4–1 Eduardo Gimenez TKO (punches) Empire Promotions: Empire FC October 20, 2012 1 0:55 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win 3–1 Luiz Cado Simon TKO (punches) Forca Jovem Parana: Nocaute ao Crack 2 August 25, 2012 3 N/A Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win 2–1 Glauber Valadares TKO (punches) Predador FC 21 August 11, 2012 1 2:52 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Win 1–1 Flavio Rodrigo Magon TKO (punches) Adrenaline Fight 4 March 10, 2012 2 2:42 Apucarana, Paraná, Brazil
Loss 0–1 Julio Cesar Araujo Fernandes Submission (choke) Samurai FC 6 December 17, 2011 1 N/A Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Rafael Carvalho – MMA Fighter Page – Tapology". tapology.com. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  2. ↑ Staff (September 9, 2014). "Brett Cooper out, Brian Rogers gets third opponent: Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 125". mmajunkie.com.
  3. ↑ Staff (August 29, 2014). "Bellator 125 lineup complete with eight fights on preliminary card". mmajunkie.com.
  4. ↑ C.J. Tuttle (September 9, 2014). "Brett Cooper suffers foot injury; Brian Rogers to fight Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 125". sherdog.com.
  5. ↑ Josh Sanchez (September 19, 2014). "Bellator 125 results: Rafael Carvalho TKOs Brian Rogers in Round 1". fansided.com.
  6. ↑ Tristen Critchfield (April 10, 2015). "Will Brooks Outpoints Dave Jansen, Retains Lightweight Title in Bellator 136 Headliner". sherdog.com.
  7. ↑ Matt Erickson (October 23, 2015). "Bellator 144 results: Rafael Carvalho kick stuns Brandon Halsey to win 185 title". mmajunkie.com.
  8. ↑ "Rafael Carvalho def. Melvin Manhoef". MMA Decisions. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  9. ↑ Staff (October 7, 2016). "Rafael Carvalho vs. Melvin Manhoef title rematch headlines Bellator 168 in Italy". mmajunkie.com.
  10. ↑ Mike Bohn (December 3, 2016). "Injury knocks champ Rafael Carvalho from Bellator 168 main event vs. Melvin Manhoef". mmajunkie.com.
  11. ↑ Dann Stupp (April 8, 2017). "Bellator 176 results: Champ Rafael Carvalho flattens Melvin Manhoef with big head kick". mmajunkie.com.
  12. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (April 10, 2017). "Rafael Carvalho fined for jumping out of cage after Bellator win over Melvin Manhoef". mmafighting.com.
  13. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (May 30, 2017). "Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho issues warning to Rory MacDonald". mmafighting.com.
  14. ↑ Nolan King (June 7, 2017). "Rafael Carvalho Set to Defend Bellator Middleweight Strap in Italy". mma-today.com.
  15. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (July 12, 2017). "Bellator champ Rafael Carvalho meets Alessio Sakara in Italy, hopes for Gegard Mousasi showdown in early 2018". mmafighting.com.
  16. ↑ http://mmajunkie.com/2015/10/mmajunkies-knockout-of-the-month-for-october-is-a-ridiculous-shot-to-the-gut
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