![Rafael Lovato Jr. (center) celebrates his triumph at ONE 173 in Tokyo. [Image: ONE Championship]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/11/61507-17642327358210-1920.jpg)
![Rafael Lovato Jr. (center) celebrates his triumph at ONE 173 in Tokyo. [Image: ONE Championship]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.6666666666667'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYGBgYHBgcICAcKCwoLCg8ODAwODxYQERAREBYiFRkVFRkVIh4kHhweJB42KiYmKjY+NDI0PkxERExfWl98fKf/2wBDAQYGBgYHBgcICAcKCwoLCg8ODAwODxYQERAREBYiFRkVFRkVIh4kHhweJB42KiYmKjY+NDI0PkxERExfWl98fKf/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMXgC//EACEQAAEDAwQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQABRITITFBQ2Hh/9oACAEBAAE/AHIVrjxYjrsIC1IwGo8eVR3VKwsXb5p6w+V//8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEhEv/aAAgBAgEBPwDNdZ//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABIQASMf/aAAgBAwEBPwC6CGT/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Rafael Lovato Jr. wrapped up his 2025 in style at ONE Championship's electric ONE 173 card in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, Nov. 16.
That evening at the Ariake Arena, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend outpointed former two-time ADCC world champion Giancarlo Bodoni in their middleweight submission grappling tiff.
Shortly after debuting in style on the global stage of ONE, the American martial artist revealed that competing for the world's largest martial arts organization fulfilled a long-held ambition.
"It was Tom DeBlass who put this together. I've been following ONE and I wanted to fight here, I wanted to put the gloves on here," Rafael Lovato Jr. told Nick Atkin during an exclusive post-fight interview.
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"I've been following [ONE] for a long time. I love the Asian culture, and the work they're doing here, the different arts, bringing all the combat arts together onto one stage."
His dominant performance against Bodoni demonstrated why legends remain dangerous and age like fine wine.
Watch Lovato Jr.'s full interview with Atkin here:
Rafael Lovato Jr. on cloud nine after massive triumph in Tokyo
In the same interview with the combat sports correspondent, Rafael Lovato Jr. said he couldn't have wished for a better stage to wrap up what has been a wonderful 2025.
"Man, amazing. So grateful, ready for more. 42 years old. I just had the best year of my career, basically. I made history this year on the IBJJF circuit, and then I finish it on this beautiful stage in an amazing place that I love so much, beating the number one guy in the world. Couldn't ask for more," the 42-year-old added.
The BJJ legend arrived with plenty of hype, given his world-class credentials.
And he delivered as promised in 'The Land of the Rising Sun'. Though submission grappling remains his preferred discipline, Lovato Jr. has hinted that he'd like to give MMA a try inside the Circle.
It won't be anything new for the Brazilian martial artist, however.
He sports a perfect 11-0 slate in the all-encompassing discipline, and even won the Bellator middleweight belt against Gegard Mousasi in June 2019.
