Giancarlo Bodoni and Rafael Lovato Jr. To Lock Horns At ONE 173 In Tokyo

An all-American submission grappling battle between Giancarlo Bodoni and Rafael Lovato Jr. is headed to ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts collide in a middleweight submission grappling showcase and will make their hotly anticipated ONE debuts on the star-studded card, which emanates live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

At just 29 years old, Bodoni has already carved out his place among the sport’s elite by capturing ADCC World Title gold in both 2022 and 2024.

Under the watchful eye of renowned coach John Danaher at New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in Texas, he’s been building an impressive resume while collecting notable scalps from the ranks of IBJJF and ADCC World Champions.

Not only does Bodoni bring a battle-tested resume to the world’s largest martial arts organization, but his aggressive nature and methodical approach to securing match-winning chokes, hooks, and cranks make him a dangerous threat from guard or top mount.

His world-class technical precision and show-stopping ability will be put to the test against someone of Lovato’s caliber, though.

The 42-year-old Oklahoma native boasts a wealth of experience that few in the discipline can match.

Lovato achieved legendary status back in 2007 when he became just the third American to claim the IBJJF World Championship as a black belt in the gi – a moment that cemented his place among BJJ royalty.

After a successful stint as an undefeated Mixed Martial Arts World Champion, Lovato returned his focus to elite submission grappling, where he’s continued to prove his worth against the world’s best.

Lovato enters this contest riding a wave of momentum after his dominant performance at the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi European and Pan-American Championships, where he claimed gold with a near-perfect submission rate.

Most recently, he finished at the top of the podium at the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Brasileiros, becoming the first athlete to win gold at all four IBJJF majors in both gi and No-Gi.

The talented grapplers will undoubtedly be eager to leave their mark on the global stage of martial arts come Sunday, November 16.

More bouts for ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, will be revealed in the coming months on onefc.com.

For ticket purchases, click here.

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