Lovato Jr beats Bodoni in Japan

On November 10th I headed to Tokyo, Japan to coach and corner multiple time world champion Rafael Lovato Jr against 2x ADCC Champion Giancarlo Bodoni at One FC 173 on PPV. With Lovato Jr being 42 years old compared to the 30 year old Giancarlo, most had us as the underdog. But Lovato was able to implement the game plan on the big stage and come back with a dominant victory. 

The match started with a good handfight, Giancarlo almost getting behind Lovato before it went to the cage. Lovato was able to get Bodoni back to the cage and locked his hands for a big takedown. Giancarlo was able to use a wrestle up after a 2 on 1 from half guard and while Lovato defended the takedown against the cage with a move Hefflin had been working on him with, Giancarlo was able to get his head out and get a double leg takedown. Lovato was able to turn that into an deep omo plata. Bodoni tried to step over, but Lovato swam through, he then shake him off but eventually had to roll through the concede top position. From there it was pressure passing for the rest of the match. Bodoni is very talented and someone we scouted heavily, but Lovato was able to shut down his reverse de la riva and underhook de la riva attacks almost passing several times and getting chest to chest quite a bit. In the end the time expired and we came away with a big decision win. Much respect to Giancarlo who is a tremendously well rounded grappler and dangerous from every position, he has great Jiu-Jitsu. 

Rafael posted this “My brothers Prof Matt @sixbladesbjjdenver & @felipecostajj. We did camp together in OKC, Austin, & I brought them to Tokyo. Matt ran the strategy & technical aspects & he absolutely crushed it! We worked every area of the game that we knew we needed to have an answer for & it all played out just how we planned. That, with their positive energy & hard training had me feeling extremely prepared & confident.”

This really caps off a great year of coaching Victor Hugo to victory over the million dollar CJI winner Nicky Rod and Lovato Jr to victory over 2x ADCC champion Giancarlo. Nicky Rod and Giancarlo are 2 of the biggest names in the sport of grappling.