Eye to Eye with Adversity

Adversity forces a man to look in the mirror. Such was the case for Rafael Carvalho.

The former Bellator MMA middleweight champion will try to snap a career-worst three-fight losing streak when he meets Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov as part of the Bellator 277 undercard on Friday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The Brazilian took the assignment—his first in nearly a year—under less-than-ideal circumstances as a short-notice replacement for Tony Johnson. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

“I had already been keeping up a certain training rhythm,” Carvalho told Sherdog.com. “I simply accelerated it. I got the call about 10 days prior to the fight, so it wasn’t a problem. It’s a great opportunity to be fighting in Bellator again, where I became champion and had a few title defenses. I hope and expect to win. Who knows? This could be a return to my old home in Bellator and eventually to my original division [at middleweight]. All that’s left is showing up and putting on a good performance.”

Carvalho, who turns 36 in July, has not fought since he wound up on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 258 on May 7. His struggles actually extend out further than his current slide, which began with a one-sided technical knockout loss to Gegard Mousasi in 2018. Carvalho has compiled an abysmal 1-5 record across his past six appearances. A move to light heavyweight did nothing to change his fortunes.

“No one likes losing,” Carvalho said. “I feel that there were moments in which the wrong choices were made, but we learn from our mistakes. I don’t feel I prepared adequately, though that’s not an excuse. I’ve always enjoyed challenges. That’s why I went up to 205 pounds, even though cutting down to 185 was never that difficult. I thought it would improve my performances. It backfired, but I don’t regret it. There were good lessons from it. When I fought Larkin, in my mind, I won that fight, but the judges didn’t see it that way. Anyway, we keep moving forward.”

Yagshimuradov figures to serve as a significant hurdle. The 32-year-old Turkmenistan export was an Absolute Championship Akhmat titleholder before turning his attention to Bellator and the United States. Yagshimuradov has gone 0-2 since the move, losing to Corey Anderson and Karl Albrektsson in back-to-back outings.

“I’ve watched two of his bouts, but I can’t limit myself to only that when gauging him,” Carvalho said. “In every fight, the opponent presents himself in a different way. It’s hard to say where he’s good or where he’s bad based on only two bouts. It’s going to be a very interesting fight. It was a surprise to me to be called up at the last minute, but I was already training. I only had a push my training and weight loss by a bit. I’m feeling good. I expect to win. It doesn’t matter if it’s by KO, submission or decision. The main thing is to get my arm raised in the end.”

Carvalho sounds like a man who has learned to leave the past in the past. His sights are fixed on Yagshimuradov and their showdown at 205 pounds. Afterward, he can turn his attention to reclaiming his place as one Bellator’s premier middleweights.

“The important thing is showing up, having a good performance, walking away with a win and climbing up one step at a time,” Carvalho said. “My true weight class is indeed 185 pounds. I fought at 205 pounds just because those opportunities come up, but I still prefer 185. I’m focused on beating my next opponent. Then we’ll see what God has in store for me.”