Part 5/13:
The call to MMA was inevitable, driven by his desire to test himself further and rekindle his fighting fire. Lovato approached this transition as a new chapter, viewing his MMA debut as a one-time challenge but quickly realizing he enjoyed the process overall. He credits the influence of his long-time coach Mauricio “Vale” Dida, a Muay Thai striker from Curitiba with a system specifically tailored for MMA, as a game changer. Lovato appreciated Dida's integrated approach—striking designed not just for stand-up war but as a tool for setting up takedowns and defending against them.