Carvalho (left) beat Manhoef (right) in 2016. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Brazilian Raphael Carvalho, current middleweight champion (up to 84kg) of Bellator, already has a date and opponents defined for his second title defense in the organization: he will rematch Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 176, scheduled for April 8, in Turin, in Italy.
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The two fighters already faced each other in May 2016, at Bellator 155. At the time, Carvalho was defending his belt for the first time and emerged victorious in a very controversial decision, after five very warm rounds. Both athletes have not played since then.
Previously, Rafael had become champion by knocking out Brandon Halsey at Bellator 144, in October 2016. In total, there are four victories in four fights held in the company. At 30 years old, he has 13 wins and just one defeat on his record, in his first fight as a professional, in 2011.
Manhoef, in turn, is much more experienced than the Brazilian. At 40 years old, the Dutchman has 46 fights under his belt, with 30 positive results, 13 negative results, one draw and two unsuccessful fights. In Bellator, he has an irregular trajectory: two wins, two losses and one no contest.
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