Rafael Carvalho
| Rafael Carvalho | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Rafael Carvalho de Souza 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 | 14 |
| Wins | 13 |
| By knockout | 10 |
| 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, where he is the current Middleweight Champion.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
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
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.[6] He won the fight by split decision.
Carvalho faced Brandon Halsey in the main event at Bellator 144 for the a vacant Bellator Middleweight Championship. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Carvalho made his first defense of his title against Melvin Manhoef on May 20, 2016 at Bellator 155.[7] 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]
Championships and accomplishments
- Bellator MMA
- Bellator Middleweight Championship (One time, current)
- MMA Junkie
- October 2015 Knockout of the Month vs. Brandon Halsey[9]
- Smash Fight
- Smash Fight Middleweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 14 matches | 13 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 10 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2 "Rafael Carvalho – MMA Fighter Page – Tapology". tapology.com. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
- ↑ Staff (September 9, 2014). "Brett Cooper out, Brian Rogers gets third opponent: Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 125". mmajunkie.com.
- ↑ Staff (August 29, 2014). "Bellator 125 lineup complete with eight fights on preliminary card". mmajunkie.com.
- ↑ C.J. Tuttle (September 9, 2014). "Brett Cooper suffers foot injury; Brian Rogers to fight Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 125". sherdog.com.
- ↑ Josh Sanchez (September 19, 2014). "Bellator 125 results: Rafael Carvalho TKOs Brian Rogers in Round 1". fansided.com.
- ↑ Adam Guillen Jr. (February 5, 2015). "Bellator 136: Will Brooks vs Dave Jansen, Joe Schilling vs Rafael Carvalho set for April 10 in Irvine". mmamania.com.
- ↑ "Rafael Carvalho vs. Melvin Manhoef, Pat Curran vs. Georgi Karakhanyan set for Bellator 155".
- ↑ "Rafael Carvalho def. Melvin Manhoef". MMA Decisions. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ↑ http://mmajunkie.com/2015/10/mmajunkies-knockout-of-the-month-for-october-is-a-ridiculous-shot-to-the-gut
