That could be Carvalho’s final bout at middleweight, as the former champion is planning a move up a weight class to light heavyweight.
“My manager told me they wanted to put me in a (middleweight) title fight next, but I told him I don’t want that. My priority now is to move up a division,” Carvalho told MMA Fighting. “I had that in mind already. Even if they do offer me a title shot, I’ll decline. I want to move up to light heavyweight and test myself. I want new challenges.”
There has been no comment from Bellator officials at this time as to whether or not Carvalho was offered the next shot at the middleweight gold.
Rumors have started swirling about a potential light heavyweight grand prix in the future and Carvalho believes he’d do great in such a format.
“I believe I would do well in a tournament with only the best,” Carvalho said. “Not taking anything away from the other athletes, but I think I would do really well. Let’s do it. I spoke with my manager, now I have to wait and see what Bellator says.”
Ryan Bader is the current king of the light heavyweight division and he doesn’t have a title defense scheduled at the moment, but is defending his heavyweight title against Cheick Kongo this September.
