Rafael Carvalho wasn't irked over suffering back-to-back defeats. It's more about how he arrived at those results.
Gegard Mousasi brutalized Carvalho with a first-round TKO to snatch the Bellator middleweight world title from the Brazilian's grasp in May of 2018. It was such a savage display that Carvalho simply accepted that Mousasi was the better man that night in London and trudged ahead.
But when Lyoto Machida edged him out on the scorecards by split decision nearly seven months later, Carvalho couldn't accept the defeat. To this day, the veteran representing American Top Team insists that he should've had his hand raised over his fellow countryman that night in Honolulu.
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So while Mousasi handing him a loss might have humbled him, Machida's slim decision victory helped set his soul on fire.
"I did not lose to Lyoto Machida," Carvalho told Sporting News through an interpreter. "I believe I won that fight. But every time we lose, we learn from that. There's an evolution."
It's the 33-year-old's hope that the evolution will be televised, as he continues to try to gain momentum in the light heavyweight division. Carvalho (16-3) faces Vadim Nemkov (10-2) in the main event of Bellator 230 on Saturday at the Ex Palalido in Milan, Italy, looking to put a healthy dent toward his new goal.
"The biggest goal up until now was to become middleweight champion," Carvalho said. "So, now that I moved up to light heavyweight, my goal is to become the light heavyweight champion. That's my next challenge and goal."
After dropping the middleweight strap to Mousasi, the former world champ tipped the scales at 186.5 pounds, a half pound over the limit for his catchweight bout against Machida. After that loss, Carvalho had another catchweight bout — this time at 190 pounds — as he scored a unanimous decision over Chidi Njokuani in July. Now, he'll look to further entrench himself into his new divisional digs.
"It's going to be a big challenge, this fight [against Nemkov]," Carvalho said. "A win this Saturday is going to be good not just for me and my career, but my division."
And not just a win, but a forceful, emphatic victory. Even if Carvalho produces that over the weekend, he's unsure if he will move along rapidly to the front of the line for a light heavyweight title shot.
"It all depends on Bellator," Carvalho said. "I have to show with different wins that I deserve being in this weight class and that I'm deserving a title shot."
"The Blessed" can further his case this weekend overseas, adding that just having the makeup of a Brazilian fighter will help his cause.
"Brazilians have a population of people that have already suffered," Carvalho said. "But at the same, if you're a fighter, you have a determination. So, if you put your mind to it, no matter what it is, you will succeed on it."
