Rafael Lovato Jr. TKOs Marcelo Nunes to Claim Vacant Legacy Middleweight Title

As one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu players of his generation, the resume of Rafael Lovato Jr. speaks for itself. Lovato let his skills shine in the Legacy Fighting Championship 54 main event, as he stopped Marcelo Nunes with punches to capture the vacant Legacy middleweight title on Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 32-year-old Lovato, who has won a number of championships in gi and no-gi competition, added to his collection of hardware with a dominant performance against Nunes. He eventually finished Nunes 4:51 into round two. The two Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts were all over each other from the start, but Lovato’s ground skills proved to be superior. Nunes could not get his muay Thai going against Lovato, who grounded the younger fighter and nullified his strikes. While the two neutralized each other’s submission attacks, Lovato was always a step ahead. After seeing his counterpart …

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