Former Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi believes Rafael Lovato Jr. was cheating when they fought at Bellator Europe 3.

In an interview with the “Vechtersbazen Podcast” broadcast by the Dutch-language Spike, Mousasi said Lovato Jr. “100 percent” used performance-enhancing drugs, though he stopped short of blaming his loss on his opponent’s alleged advantage.

“I should have won this match even with him using PEDs,” Mousasi said, as translated by Dutch reporter Giovanni Tjin for MMA Junkie.

Mousasi (46-6-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), 33, lost the title at last month’s event via majority decision. Lovato Jr. (10-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA), a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu player, surged back after a tough fourth round to dominate the action on the canvas. It was Mousasi’s first loss in eight fights and three years.

Mousasi claims he alerted commission officials to Lovato’s alleged doping prior to the fight, asking for his opponent to be blood tested. He said a picture he saw of Lovato Jr. looked suspicious and asked a regulator to further scrutinize the challenger.

“I told the commission that it’s clear that he was on PEDs,” Mousasi said. “(The commissioner) gave me a pat on the shoulder and told me that he was going to get tested on fight day and walked away.”

Lovato Jr.’s representative, Ed Soares, declined comment when contacted by MMA Junkie.

Mike Mazzulli, president of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation and the Association of Boxing Commissions, served as the de-facto regulator for Bellator Europe 3. He told MMA Junkie on Wednesday that both Lovato Jr. and Mousasi were urine tested on fight night, and on Tuesday those tests came back negative for PEDs and drugs of abuse. He confirmed his interaction with Mousasi prior to the fight.

“I did grab him on the shoulder and say, ‘Every time you fight, you ask me to test all the opponents, and I said that to you and your manager,'” Mazzulli said. “Mousasi knows I tested him, because I was out there taking urine from him. So I don’t know what he’s stating, but both tests came back negative.”

Mousasi said he also reached out to Bellator president Scott Coker about Lovato Jr.

“I have also sent Scott Coker a text, because I saw a picture of (Lovato Jr.) that did not look natural,” Mousasi said. “He told me that he would get back at me and call me. I didn’t hear anything back.”

Prior to signing with Bellator as a free agent, Mousasi told MMA Junkie that he joined the Viacom-owned promotion because they were receptive to requests for additional drug testing. His promotional debut against ex-champ Alexander Shlemenko, who’d previously been sanctioned for elevated testosterone, was preceded by drug testing by Mazzulli.

“I want to have fighters that are clean,” Mousasi said. “I’m a clean fighter, so I want my opponent to be clean.”

Mousasi has accused other opponents of doping following a loss. Several years after a decision setback against Lyoto Machida in the UFC, Mousasi claimed the Brazilian ex-champ was using steroids. In 2016, he also said UFC oppponent Vitor Belfort suffered from “mental issues” as the result of using previously legal testosterone-replacement therapy.

In his Spike interview, Mousasi reiterated his claim against Machida as he assessed his future with Bellator.

“If the rematch (with Lovato Jr.) isn’t coming, Machida will probably be next,” Mousasi said. “Another PED user.

“Brazilians are known for using PEDs. Americans, too, but especially Brazilians.”

For complete coverage of Bellator Europe 3, check out the MMA results.