Craig Jones defined why he requested to face Rafael Lovato Jr. on the upcoming UFC Battle Go Invitational 6 on March 3.
Elite no-gi competitor Craig Jones is ready to tackle veteran Rafael Lovato Jr. in the primary occasion of UFC Battle Go Invitation (UFC FPI) 6 on Sunday, March 3.
On a current episode of Jones’ “El Segundo” podcast, he revealed that he’s been searching for a match towards Lovato for some time and defined why he needs to face the previous IBJJ gi and no-gi world champion.
“I’ll say it’s a match I’ve tried to e-book. Promoters have stated, ‘Hey who do you need to face?’ I need to face Lovato. And that’s not as a result of I see a strategic weak point in Lovato. If something, it’s as a result of I checked his age and he’s a bit older. You may see that as vulnerability, however my counterargument can be I believe we each in all probability have the identical aged coronary heart given the harm and mileage mine has on it. My way of life is a good equalizer, it’s the explanation we glance the identical age, me and Lovato. However he’s 40 and I’m 32, I believe.”
On a extra critical observe, Jones acknowledges Lovato as one of many prime athletes he admired when he was youthful.
Certainly, Lovato is likely one of the most revered and achieved athletes of his era. Along with his IBJJF world titles, the Oklahoma native boasts current notable victories over the likes of Elder Cruz and Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira.
For Jones, asking to face Lovato is actually an indication of respect:
“The rationale I need this match is as a result of there’s key names which might be pivotal while you’re arising. Typically in case you ask a grappler who has influenced you probably the most, it’s gonna be primarily based on who was well-known and who was doing properly at a decrease belt for these guys.
“Who was a big-name competitor while you had been a purple belt? After I was a purple belt, guys like Lovato had been, they had been the large names of my era. So for me, once I was a purple belt aspiring skilled competitor, these are the names that I used to be like, ‘Holy f*** it might be sick to have a match towards these guys, beat these guys.’ And now, as I grow old within the grappling world, these guys are retiring so there’s not too many alternatives for me to face these gents.”
How one can watch: The UFC FPI 6: Craig Jones vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. takes place on Sunday, March 3, and can air stay on UFC Fight Pass (subscription required).
