Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho defends belt against former UFC fighter

R. Carvalho is the Bellator middleweight champion. Photo: Disclosure/Bellator

Current Bellator middleweight champion, the Rio native Raphael Carvalho He already has a defined date, opponent and location to put his belt on the line: he will face Alessio Sakara on December 9th, in Florence, Italy, in a joint event with the Italian kickboxing organization Oktagon.

See too

Bisping disdains Aldo and says Holloway's victory legitimizes featherweight belt

In bad shape, Hector Lombard faces Anthony Smith at UFC Seattle

Raphael Carvalho He became the organization's champion by knocking out Brandon Halsey at Bellator 144, in October 2015. He has already defended his belt on two occasions, both against Melvin Manhoef, the most recent last April, when he knocked out the Dutchman. In Bellator since 2014, the Brazilian won all five fights held in the company. At 30 years old, he has 14 wins and just one defeat on his record, in his first fight as a professional, in 2011.

Formerly UFC, Sakara has only two fights in Bellator. He started by knocking out Brian Rogers in April 2016, and defeated Joey Beltran last December, also by knockout. At 35 years old, the Italian has a record with 19 triumphs, 11 setbacks and two unsuccessful fights.