The two elite black belts will face off in a special 10-minute submission-only no-gi match for the Fight To Win Pro light heavyweight title.
“Rafael wanted to fight in Colorado – where he has four affiliates – and wanted to take on the best in the world. We wanted to give the Colorado fans who started this whole thing an epic match up that has never been seen before,” says Fight To Win promoter Seth Daniels.
“Cyborg is a legend and, like Rafael, a great guy. Both of them jumped at the opportunity. Now we are a little over three and a half weeks away from one of the most epic match ups in history!"
“I’m happy to be fighting on Fight To Win for the first time,” says Roberto ‘Cyborg’ Abreu. “Especially against such a great opponent.
Lovato is the best American in the history of the sport and we have never fought no-gi before. I'm sure it will be a battle to be remembered.
"I am so pumped to face Cyborg!” says Rafael Lovato Jr. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a competitor and person."
I think our match will become an instant classic that people will remember for a long time. Get ready for fireworks!
The event, which will take place at the National Western Events Complex in Denver, Colorado and will be streamed live here on FloGrappling, also features a number of big names grapplers on the card.
In the co-main event Eliot Marshall of Easton BJJ will take on Warren Brooks in a heavyweight black belt match in the gi).
Two of Lovato Jr.’s students will support him on the card: James Puopolo will take on JJ Pugsley while Jarred Dopp will face Grant Gaither, both in no-gi matches.
Further black belt matches confirmed for the event include Todd Kornfield vs Nick Maez, and newly-promoted John Combs vs Hayward Charles.
Watch Fight To Win Pro 7 LIVE or on replay exclusively here on FloGrappling.
