Rafael Carvalho de Souza
(born 27 July 1986) is a Brazilian
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
who most recently competed in the
light heavyweight
Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Professional
In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight.
The light heavyweight class has ...
and
middleweight
Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing Professional
In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to .
Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have beg ...
divisions of
Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...
, where he was a former
Bellator Middleweight World Champion. As of December 2017, Carvalho is tied with
Alexander Shlemenko for most title defenses in the division's history. He also won the Smash Fight middleweight championship in 2013.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
First loss and rebound
Carvalho made his professional mixed martial arts debut against Julio Cesar Araujo Fernandes on 17 December 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
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...
.
Bellator MMA
Road to Bellator middleweight title
Carvalho was expected to make his promotional debut against fellow newcomer
Anthony Ruiz
Anthony Ruiz (born November 3, 1977) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions of MMA. A professional since 2003, he has competed for Bellator MMA, Strikeforce (mixed m ...
on 19 September 2014 at
Bellator 125. However, after an injury to
Brett Cooper, Carvalho stepped up and faced
Brian Rogers in the co-main event. Carvalho won the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the first round.
Carvalho faced
kickboxing
Kickboxing ( ) is a full-contact hybrid Martial arts, martial art and Boxing (disambiguation), boxing type based on punch (combat), punching and kicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. The fight takes place in a boxing ring, norma ...
veteran
Joe Schilling
Joseph Francis Schilling (born January 13, 1984) is an American professional Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist who most recently competed for Bellator Kickboxing in the Middleweight division, and in the Middleweight division for Bell ...
on 10 April 2015 at
Bellator 136
2015 in Bellator MMA was the seventh year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 16 events in 2015.
Background
In June 2014, Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted with the company. ...
. He won the fight by split decision.
Bellator middleweight champion
Carvalho faced
Brandon Halsey in the main event at
Bellator 144 for the vacant
Bellator Middleweight Championship
Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") was an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class.
At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded ...
on 23 October 2015. Carvalho stopped Halsey via a body kick in the second round in an upset. Halsey dominated the first round on the ground; almost finishing Carvalho with an arm-triangle choke. With the comeback victory, Carvalho became the first fighter to defeat Halsey.
Carvalho made his first defense of his title against
Melvin Manhoef
Melvin Manhoef (born 11 May 1976) is a retired Surinamese people, Surinamese-born Dutch people, Dutch mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Kickboxing, kickboxer. In kickboxing, he is a former It's Showtime (kickboxing), It's Showtime Middl ...
on 20 May 2016 at
Bellator 155. 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.
An immediate rematch with Manhoef was scheduled to take place at
Bellator 168, on 10 December 2016. However, Carvalho pulled out of the fight due to injury. The rematch eventually took place on 8 April 2017 at
Bellator 176. Carvalho won the bout via knockout due to a head kick in the fourth round. Following the event, Carvalho was fined $5,000 by the
Association of Boxing Commissions
The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) is a North American not-for-profit professional boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) organization that organizes contests and record-keeping. It is governed by delegates of state, provincial, and tribal ...
(ABC) for unsportsmanlike conduct, due to jumping out the cage in his post-fight celebration.
In a May 2017 interview with MMAfighting.com, Carvalho expressed interest in a bout with newly signed welterweight
Rory MacDonald after the two exchanged words on
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
. In addition, he hoped to make his next title defense in July or August.
In his third title defense, Carvalho faced
Alessio Sakara
Alessio Sakara (born September 2, 1981) is an Italian professional mixed martial artist, former professional boxer and Sanshou kickboxer, currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Sakara has als ...
at
Bellator 190 on 9 December 2017. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. As a result, Carvalho tied the record for most title defenses, held by
Alexander Shlemenko, in the divisions' history (three).
In his fourth title defense, Carvalho faced
Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi (born 1 August 1985) is a Dutch mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. Mousasi most recently competed in Bellator MMA, where he is the former two-time Bellator Middleweight Champion. He is also the former DREAM Light Heavywe ...
on 25 May 2018 at
Bellator 200 in London. This was the last fight on his contract. He lost the fight via technical knock out in round one.
Return to contender status
On 12 September, it was announced that Carvalho had re-signed with the Bellator MMA promotion. It was also announced that Carvalho is expected to face promotional newcomer and former
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships.
Historical notes
At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight class ...
Lyoto Machida
is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as a UFC Middleweight Championship title challenger. He mos ...
on 15 December at
Bellator 213. On weigh-in day, Carvalho missed weight, weighing in at 186.5 pounds, over the maximum non-title limit of 186.0 pounds. The bout proceeded at Catchweight and Carvalho was fined 20% of his purse. Carvalho was defeated by split decision.
Carvalho faced
Chidi Njokuani
Chidi Godson Njokuani (born December 31, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist, former Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer, who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professio ...
at
Bellator 224 in a 190 lb Catchweight bout on 12 July 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision. After the fight with Njokuani, Carvalho announced that he will be moving up to the light heavyweight division.
Move up to light heavyweight
In his light heavyweight debut, Carvalho faced
Vadim Nemkov at
Bellator 230 on 13 October 2019. After being largely dominated in the fight, Carvalho lost via submission late in the second round.
Carvalho faced Alex Polizzi at
Bellator 245 on 11 September 2020. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Bellator MMA announced on 27 October 2020, that Carvalho had been released from the promotion.
After the release from Bellator, Carvalho was set to headline LFA 107 against Sharaf Davlatmurodov on 14 May 2021. However, the bout was called off as Carvalho stepped in as a replacement for Costello van Steenis to face
Lorenz Larkin on 6 days notice at
Bellator 258 on 7 May 2021. The promotion announced that this bout would be a one off fight deal. Carvalho lost the bout via split decision.
Replacing Tony Johnson, Carvalho faced
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov on April 15, 2022 at
Bellator 277. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
Post Bellator
In his first bout after leaving Bellator, Carvalho faced Marcelo Alfaya on November 15, 2023 at Centurion FC 16, winning the bout and the title via unanimous decision.
Global Fight League
On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Carvalho was eligible to be drafted in the Global Fight League. However, he was not drafted for the 2025 season. In turn, in April 2025, it was reported that all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Carvalho was scheduled to make his
BKFC debut on December 21, 2024 against Gilberto Fuentes at
BKFC on DAZN: Hollywood, FL. However, the bout was postponed after Carvalho signed with Global Fight League.
Championships and accomplishments
*
Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...
**
Bellator Middleweight World Championship (One time; former)
***Three successful title defenses
**Tied with
Alexander Shlemenko for the most successful Middleweight title defenses in Bellator history (3)
*
MMA Junkie
MMA Junkie is a news website that covers the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). It was founded in 2006, and has been owned by Gannett Company since 2011. The site and its content have been featured in ''Time'' magazine, ''ESPN The Magazine'', ''Th ...
**October 2015 Knockout of the Month
vs. Brandon Halsey
*Smash Fight
**Smash Fight Middleweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 17–8
, Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
, KO (punches)
, Iowa Fight Series 2
,
, align=center, 4
, align=center, 0:47
,
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, and is the county seat of the county. With a population of 27,591 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the 16th largest city in the state. Marshalltown is home to the Iowa Vetera ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 17–7
, Marcelo Alfaya
, Decision (unanimous)
,
Centurion FC 16
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
,
Attard
Attard () is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija, it forms part of the " Three Villages" () and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. It has a population of 12,268 as of 2021. Attard's traditional ...
, Malta
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 16–7
,
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
, TKO (elbows and punches)
,
Bellator 277
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 4:04
,
San Jose, California
San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 16–6
,
Lorenz Larkin
, Decision (split)
,
Bellator 258
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 16–5
, Alex Polizzi
, Decision (unanimous)
,
Bellator 245
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 16–4
,
Vadim Nemkov
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
,
Bellator 230
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 3:56
,
Milan
Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
, Italy
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 16–3
,
Chidi Njokuani
Chidi Godson Njokuani (born December 31, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist, former Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer, who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professio ...
, Decision (unanimous)
,
Bellator 224
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Thackerville, Oklahoma
Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located near the Texas state border. The population was 400 at the 2020 census.
Geography
Thackerville is situated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and State High ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 15–3
,
Lyoto Machida
is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as a UFC Middleweight Championship title challenger. He mos ...
, Decision (split)
,
Bellator 213
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 15–2
,
Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi (born 1 August 1985) is a Dutch mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. Mousasi most recently competed in Bellator MMA, where he is the former two-time Bellator Middleweight Champion. He is also the former DREAM Light Heavywe ...
, TKO (punches)
,
Bellator 200
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 3:35
,
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, England
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 15–1
,
Alessio Sakara
Alessio Sakara (born September 2, 1981) is an Italian professional mixed martial artist, former professional boxer and Sanshou kickboxer, currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Sakara has als ...
, KO (elbow)
,
Bellator 190
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:44
,
Florence
Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025.
Florence ...
, Italy
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 14–1
,
Melvin Manhoef
Melvin Manhoef (born 11 May 1976) is a retired Surinamese people, Surinamese-born Dutch people, Dutch mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Kickboxing, kickboxer. In kickboxing, he is a former It's Showtime (kickboxing), It's Showtime Middl ...
, KO (head kick)
,
Bellator 176
,
, align=center, 4
, align=center, 3:15
,
Torino, Italy
Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 13–1
,
Melvin Manhoef
Melvin Manhoef (born 11 May 1976) is a retired Surinamese people, Surinamese-born Dutch people, Dutch mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Kickboxing, kickboxer. In kickboxing, he is a former It's Showtime (kickboxing), It's Showtime Middl ...
, Decision (split)
,
Bellator 155
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
,
Boise, Idaho
Boise ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Idaho, most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, there were 235,685 people residing in the city. Loca ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 12–1
,
Brandon Halsey
, KO (body kick)
,
Bellator 144
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:42
,
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 11–1
,
Joe Schilling
Joseph Francis Schilling (born January 13, 1984) is an American professional Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist who most recently competed for Bellator Kickboxing in the Middleweight division, and in the Middleweight division for Bell ...
, Decision (split)
,
Bellator 136
2015 in Bellator MMA was the seventh year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 16 events in 2015.
Background
In June 2014, Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted with the company. ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Irvine, California
Irvine () is a Planned community, planned city in central Orange County, California, United States, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was named in 1888 for the landowner James Irvine. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 10–1
,
Brian Rogers
, TKO (punches)
,
Bellator 125
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 3:06
,
Fresno, California
Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 9–1
, Mauri Roque
, TKO (knee to the body and punches)
, Talent MMA Circuit 9: Sao Jose dos Pinhais 2014
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:47
,
São José dos Pinhais
São José dos Pinhais () is a municipality in the state of Paraná in Brazil. It is a part of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba.
Etymology
With geographical and religious origins the city's name is a homage to São José (Saint Joseph) and ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 8–1
, Sergio Souza
, TKO (knee to the body and punches)
, Iron Fight Combat 4
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 2:15
,
São José dos Pinhais
São José dos Pinhais () is a municipality in the state of Paraná in Brazil. It is a part of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba.
Etymology
With geographical and religious origins the city's name is a homage to São José (Saint Joseph) and ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 7–1
,
Gustavo Machado
, Decision (unanimous)
, Smash Fight 2
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Curitiba, Paraná
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–1
, Fernando Scherek
, TKO (punches)
, Adventure Fighters Tournament 4
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:39
,
Curitiba, Paraná
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–1
, Kaue Dudus
, TKO (punches)
, Samurai FC 9: Water vs. Fire
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 3:48
,
Curitiba, Paraná
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–1
, Eduardo Gimenez
, TKO (punches)
, Empire Promotions: Empire FC
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:55
,
Curitiba, Paraná
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–1
, Luiz Cado Simon
, TKO (punches)
, Forca Jovem Parana: Nocaute ao Crack 2
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, N/A
,
Curitiba, Paraná
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–1
, Glauber Valadares
, TKO (punches)
, Predador FC 21
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:52
,
Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–1
, Flavio Rodrigo Magon
, TKO (punches)
, Adrenaline Fight 4
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 2:42
,
Apucarana, Paraná, Brazil
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 0–1
, Julio Cesar Araujo Fernandes
, Submission (anaconda choke)
, Samurai FC 6
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, N/A
,
Curitiba, Paraná
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
See also
*
List of male mixed martial artists
This is a list of notable professional male mixed martial arts fighters in alphabetical order.
__NOTOC__
A
* Tank Abbott - ( UFC, Pride, Strikeforce)
* Hamdy Abdelwahab - ( UFC)
* Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov - ( ACB)
* Shamil Abdurakhimov - ...
References
External links
Rafael Carvalhoat
Bellator
Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to:
* Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States
* Bishop Bellator of Sufetula (5th century)
Taxonomy
* ''Bellator'' (fish), a fish genus in the family Triglidae (sea robins)
** ...
(archived)
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carvalho, Rafael
1986 births
Living people
Brazilian male mixed martial artists
Middleweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai
Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian male Muay Thai practitioners
Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Martial artists from Rio de Janeiro (city)
Bellator MMA champions
21st-century Brazilian sportsmen