Rafael Carvalho lost the Bellator MMA Middleweight Title to Gegard Mousasi via first round TKO in the main event of Bellator 200.
The former champion had plans to move up a weight class to light heavyweight, but the loss to Mousasi has altered those plans for the time being.
?I think I would have an advantage of not cutting so much weight,? said Carvalho to MMA Fighting. ?I feel well at middleweight, but I?m open to offers. If (Bellator president) Scott (Coker) says he wants me to go up, I?d do it. I had this plan for after this fight if I had won, but let?s say plans have changed a little bit now. I want to get my belt back. I?m not in a hurry, will do it patiently.?
Carvalho had competed at middleweight for his entire Bellator MMA run, so the jump to light heavyweight would be a first for the former champ.
An immediate rematch could be in the works for Carvalho, but the fighter is waiting to see what Bellator MMA wants to do first.
?Let?s see what (Bellator) wants, if they want me to fight a couple of times more or if they give me a rematch. I don?t know yet,? Carvalho said. ?I?m taking time off, a few days off, and will watch the fight and see what I could?ve done differently and make sure it doesn?t happen again.?
A rematch could be out of the question for Carvalho for the time being, as Mousasi immediately challenged Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion Rory MacDonald after the fight.