Rafael Lovato Jr. unsure about fighting future after successful return

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After a profitable return to combating following a three-year absence, former Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Lovato Jr. is uncertain if he’ll proceed his MMA profession.

As a result of cavernoma, a mind situation involving abnormally shaped blood vessels, Lovato Jr. (11-0) was pressured to place his profession within the cage on maintain quickly after defeating Gegard Mousasi to say gold at Bellator 223.

Over 42 months later, Lovato Jr. returned to motion, defeating Taiga Iwasaki within the first round with an arm lock submission at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2022 in Tokyo.

“I believed so lengthy and laborious about simply getting yet another, and having the ability to shut the chapter on my MMA profession, my approach,” Lovato Jr. advised Jimmy Smith on SiriusXM Fight Nation. “… It took three and a half years. All this time handed, but it surely occurred, and it’s laborious to consider that it did occur. It’s a dream come true. And now, right here we’re, and I’ve a complete new set of issues to consider if a possibility does come.”

“I believed so laborious about getting yet another (battle) and having the ability to shut the chapter on my MMA profession, my approach.”

After a profitable return to MMA following a 3 12 months hiatus, Rafael Lovato Jr. (@lovatojrbjj) tells @jimmysmithmma whether or not we would see him within the cage once more pic.twitter.com/dT95bcVswf

— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) January 4, 2023

Lovato Jr., 39, was not fully idle in his time away from the cage. Holding his high-level BJJ abilities sharp, he grappled in a number of competitions together with the UFC Struggle Cross Invitational in 2021 and the ADCC World Championships in September.

Along with his well being considerations and different life occasions going down, combating in MMA competitors could also be a door that’s almost shut for Lovato Jr.

“I’m virtually 40 now,” Lovato Jr. stated. “I simply turned a father of twins this 12 months. So, I’m at a special stage. However like I stated, I nonetheless really feel good, and if it’s a really attractive alternative, then I’ll positively contemplate it and we’ll see what occurs. … I’m very pleased, and life is sweet it doesn’t matter what.”