Rafael Lovato, Junior.

Career

Rafael is a black belt under Carlos Machado, the oldest of the Machado family. Rafael has had a long and formative training history with Xande and Saulo Ribeiro, one which began after he competed against Saulo in the finals of the 2003 Arnold Classic, when Rafael was just 19 years old. Rafael currently manages his own academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Achievements

• Although he is known as a successful competitor in high-level competition, he is particularly notable for being the second American (BJ Penn being the first) to win the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a black belt.