Back in 2015, America's most accomplished blackbelt met America's greatest up-and-coming black belt for a chance at a ticket to Abu Dhabi for the World Pro.

Low participation forced the lightweight contender Michael Liera Jr. to bump up to the heavyweight weight class to take on the 2007 world champion black belt Rafael Lovato Jr. in the heavyweight finals!

Check out their first match:

Coincidentally, both men signed up to fight in the Absolute division, and met again later in the day—this time, in the Absolute finals!

Watch their second match:

Bonus! Before Lovato met Liera Jr. in the Absolute finals, Lovato put on a cross choke clinic versus a much larger opponent in the semifinals.

Bonus match: