Rafael Natal
| Rafael Natal Diniz Franca | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rafael Natal December 25, 1982 Belo Horizonte, Brazil |
| Other names | Sapo |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
| Division | Middleweight |
| Fighting out of | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Team | Gracie Fusion |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2005-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 18 |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 0 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www.rafaelsapo.com |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Not to be confused with Rafael Nadal
Rafael Natal Diniz Franca is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Natal mostly fought in the Ring of Combat promotion before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Mixed martial arts career
Background
Natal started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and was eventually awarded his black belt by 4th degree black belt Vinicius Magalhães. Natal is also a professor (an instructor) at Renzo Gracie's academy in New York,[1] where he trains with Marcio Cruz and Rafael dos Anjos.[2]
Natal's professional MMA career began in smaller shows and he compiled a record of 6–0 - which included a victory over Danillo Villefort - before scoring a minor upset victory over Silmar Rodrigo via unanimous decision.[3]
Ring of Combat and Moosin
Natal then joined Ring of Combat and made his promotional debut against Alexandre Moreno at Ring of Combat 23.[2] Natal defeated him via knockout in the first round.
This was followed up by a submission win over Plinio Cruz at Ring of Combat 24, before Natal faced Victor O'Donnell at Ring of Combat 25. Natal lost to O'Donnell via doctor stoppage after round 1.
At Ring of Combat 26, Natal was supposed to fight Sean Salmon. However, Salmon had to withdraw and was replaced by Allan Weickert. Weickert was no match for Natal, who picked up the submission victory after a rear naked choke.[4]
Natal then competed in Moosin: God of Martial Arts against The Ultimate Fighter 4 winner Travis Lutter. In a bout dominated by striking, Natal caught Lutter with an uppercut, giving him the knockout victory in the first round.[5]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Natal then reportedly signed a deal with Shine Fights. However, in July 2010, Renzo Gracie announced on his website that Natal had instead signed a four-fight deal with the UFC.[1]
His first opponent was The Ultimate Fighter alumn Rich Attonito at UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares.[6] Natal lost the bout via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27). Natal was dropped in the first round in the bout with Attonito. He recovered well and even got takedowns but couldn't do enough to win the decision.
Natal was expected to face Jason MacDonald on December 11, 2010 at UFC 124.[7] However, MacDonald would later withdraw and was replaced by newcomer Jesse Bongfeldt.[8] The fight was scored a draw by the judges. Natal won the first two rounds 10–9, but two judges scored the third round 10–8 Bongfeldt leading to the majority draw (two 28–28 scores) after 3 rounds. The scorecards were originally announced as a unanimous 30–30 draw, but when copies of the scorecards were distributed, the mistake was corrected.
Natal's next fight was expected to be against Alessio Sakara on the UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann card but due to injury Natal was replaced by Chris Weidman.
Natal was expected to face Riki Fukuda on August 6, 2011 at UFC 133.[9] However, Fukuda was forced out of the bout due to a knee injury sustained in a car accident [10] and replaced by Costantinos Philippou.[11] When Philippou replaced an injured Alessio Sakara to fight Jorge Rivera, Natal faced former The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest competitor Paul Bradley instead.[12] Natal defeated Bradley by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), winning the first and third rounds on all three judges scorecards. In the fight Rafael Natal utilized excellent takedown defense and a constant barrage of low kicks to outpoint his opponent.
Natal faced newcomer Michael Kuiper on February 4, 2012 at UFC 143 in which, he won via unanimous decision.[13]
Natal is expected to fight on July 11, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 4.[14]
Mixed martial arts record
| 18 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 2 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 14–3–1 |  Michael Kuiper
|
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 143 | February 4, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–3–1 |  Paul Bradley
|
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 133 | August 6, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Draw | 12–3–1 |  Jesse Bongfeldt
|
Draw (majority) | UFC 124 | December 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Loss | 12–3 | Rich Attonito
|
Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares | September 15, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Austin, Texas, United States | UFC Debut |
| Win | 12–2 | Travis Lutter
|
KO (punches) | Moosin: God of Martial Arts | May 21, 2010 | 1 | 4:12 | Worcester, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Allan Weickert
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | Ring of Combat 26 | September 11, 2009 | 1 | 2:53 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Victor O'Donnell
|
TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ring of Combat 25 | June 12, 2009 | 1 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 |  Plinio Cruz
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | Ring of Combat 24 | April 17, 2009 | 2 | 3:13 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 |  Alexandre Moreno
|
KO (punch) | Ring of Combat 23 | February 20, 2009 | 1 | 3:59 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Jon Kirk
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | SWC 2 - Battleground | November 28, 2008 | 1 | 3:19 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Eduardo Telles
|
KO (head kick) | Fury FC 6 - High Voltage | July 12, 2008 | 2 | 2:18 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Silmar Rodrigo
|
Decision (unanimous) | Mo Team League 1 | August 11, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Gerson Silva
|
Decision | XFC Brazil | April 29, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Nailson Bahia
|
Submission (armbar) | XFC Brazil | April 29, 2007 | 1 | 1:24 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Danillo Villefort
|
TKO (punches) | Gold Fighters Championship 1 | May 20, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Carlos Eduardo dos Santos
|
Submission (guillotine choke) | Wild Fight 1 | October 1, 2005 | 2 | 2:46 | Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Walter Luis
|
Submission (keylock) | Champions Night 12 | May 6, 2005 | 2 | 0:55 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Emerson Avila
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | Champions Night 12 | May 6, 2005 | 1 | 1:58 | São Paulo, Brazil |
References
- ^ a b "Middleweight Rafael "Sapo" Natal signs four fight deal with the UFC". mmajunkie.com. July 8, 2010.
- ^ a b "10 February tussles worth watching". sherdog.com. February 4, 2009.
- ^ "WildFire victorious in MTL debut". sherdog.com. August 12, 2007.
- ^ "Haselrig suspended after Ring of Combat no-show". sherdog.com. September 12, 2009.
- ^ "Mariusz Pudzianowski taps to Tim Sylvia punches at Moosin: God of Martial Arts". mmajunkie.com. May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Rich Attonito vs. Rafael Natal added to UFC Fight Night 22 preliminary card". mmajunkie.com. July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Jason MacDonald Makes Return From Broken Leg vs. Rafael Natal at UFC 124". mmafighting.com. 2010-10-06.
- ^ "Jason MacDonald out, Rafael Natal faces newcomer Jesse Bongfeldt at UFC 124".
- ^ "Rafael "Sapo" Natal vs. Riki Fukuda Added to UFC 133 Card". mmaweekly.com. April 14, 2011.
- ^ "Riki Fukuda out of UFC 133 due to car-accident injury". mmajunkie.com. June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Replacement Costantinos Philippou meets Rafael "Sapo" Natal at UFC 133". MMA Junkie. June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Paul Bradley vs. Rafael Natal Slated for UFC 133". mmafighting.com. July 25, 2011.
- ^ "Rafael 'Sapo' Natal welcomes newcomer Michael Kuiper at UFC 143". MMAJunkie.com. November 29, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
- ^ "Rafael Natal and Tom DeBlass added to July's UFC on FUEL TV 4 event". mmajunkie.com. May 7, 2012.