Rafael Natal Diniz Franca () is a retired Brazilian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

. A professional from 2005 until 2017, he is best known for his 17-fight stint competing for the

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

Mixed martial arts career

Background

Natal started

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting ( ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

and was eventually awarded his black belt by fifth degree black belt Vinicius Magalhães. Natal is also a professor (an instructor) at Renzo Gracie's academy in New York, where he trains with Márcio Cruz. 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.

Ring of Combat and Moosin

Natal then joined Ring of Combat and made his promotional debut against Alexandre Moreno at Ring of Combat 23. Natal defeated him via KO 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 Sean Michael Salmon (born September 11, 1977, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States) is a retired American mixed martial artist and a former columnist for MMA news site MMAjunkie.com. Salmon has competed for the UFC, Strikeforce and King of th ...

. 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. 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 KO victory in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Natal then reportedly signed a deal with Shine Fights. However, in July 2010,

Renzo Gracie Renzo Gracie (; born March 11, 1967) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A member of the Gracie family of Brazil, Renzo is a 7th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Gracie Jr. He is the ...

announced on his website that Natal had instead signed a four-fight deal with the UFC. His first opponent was ''The Ultimate Fighter'' alumn Rich Attonito at UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares. Natal lost the bout via unanimous decision. 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 Jason Anthony MacDonald (born June 3, 1975) is a Canadian former mixed martial artist. A professional from 1999 until 2013, he is perhaps best remembered for his two stints in the UFC, but also fought for King of the Cage, and the Maximum Figh ...

on December 11, 2010 at UFC 124. However, MacDonald would later withdraw and was replaced by newcomer Jesse Bongfeldt. 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 was expected to face

Alessio Sakara Alessio Sakara (born September 2, 1981) is an Italian professional mixed martial artist, former professional boxer and Sanshou kickboxer, currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Sakara has al ...

on March 3, 2011 at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann but due to injury Natal was replaced by

Chris Weidman Christopher James WeidmanMIXED MARTIAL ARTS S ...

. Natal was expected to face

Riki Fukuda , is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2004, he has formerly competed for the UFC, EliteXC, DEEP, DREAM, K-1 (MMA), Shooto, and Pancrase. Mixed martial arts care ...

on August 6, 2011 at UFC 133. However, Fukuda was forced out of the bout due to a knee injury sustained in a car accident and replaced by

Costas Philippou Constantinos Philippou ( gr, Κωνσταντίνος Φιλίππου, born November 29, 1979) is a retired Greek-Cypriot mixed martial artist. He formerly fought for the UFC's Middleweight division. Early life Philippou was born in Limasso ...

. When Philippou replaced an injured

to fight Jorge Rivera, Natal faced former The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest competitor Paul Bradley instead. Natal defeated Bradley by unanimous decision, winning the first and third rounds on all three judges scorecards. In the fight Natal utilized excellent takedown defense and a constant barrage of low kicks to outpoint his opponent. Natal faced UFC newcomer

Michael Kuiper Michael Jan Hugo Kuiper (born June 7, 1989) is a Dutch mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2009, he has competed for the UFC and Titan FC. Mixed martial arts career ...

on February 4, 2012 at UFC 143. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Natal next face Andrew Craig on July 11, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman. After nearly finishing Craig, Natal lost via head kick KO with seconds remaining in round two. Natal was expected to face

Magnus Cedenblad Magnus Cedenblad (born April 10, 1982) is a retired Swedish mixed martial artist who competed in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, among others. Mixed martial arts career Early career Cedenblad has said that he ...

on January 26, 2013 at UFC on Fox 6. However, Cedenblad pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Sean Spencer. Natal defeated Spencer via third round submission. Natal was expected to face Chris Camozzi on May 18, 2013 at

UFC on FX 8 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

. However, Camozzi was pulled from the matchup with Natal in favor of a matchup with

Ronaldo Souza Ronaldo Souza dos Santos (born December 7, 1979), nicknamed " Jacare" (), is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist and submission grappler who competed for UFC from 2013 to 2021. A highly regarded grappler on the world ...

at the same event after Souza's scheduled opponent

pulled out of the bout with an injury. Natal instead faced promotional newcomer Joao Zeferino. He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision. Natal faced Tor Troéng on September 4, 2013 at

UFC Fight Night 28 ''UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 28'') was a mixed martial arts that was held on September 4, 2013, at Mineirinho Arena in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Background A bout between Raphael Assunção and T.J. D ...

. He won the fight via unanimous decision. The bout also earned him his first ''Fight of the Night'' bonus award. Natal was expected to face Ed Herman on November 16, 2013 at UFC 167. However, after

Michael Bisping Michael Gavin Joseph Bisping (; born 28 February 1979) is an English actor, sports analyst, commentator and retired mixed martial artist, who competed in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight division of the UFC. A professional competitor s ...

pull out of his fight with

Mark Muñoz Oklahoma State Cowboys Mark Kenery Muñoz (born February 9, 1978) is a Filipino-American former professional mixed martial artist who last competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competit ...

UFC Fight Night 30 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

, Tim Kennedy's original opponent

Lyoto Machida (born 30 May 1978), is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and karateka, who currently competes in the Light heavyweight division. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a former UFC Light H ...

filled in for Bisping thus giving Natal the spot to face Kennedy at

UFC Fight Night 31 ''UFC: Fight for the Troops 3'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 31'') was a mixed martial arts event held on November 6, 2013, at Fort Campbell in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The event was broadcast live on Fox Sports 1. Background The event was th ...

. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. Natal faced Ed Herman on May 10, 2014 at

UFC Fight Night 40 ''UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 40'') was a mixed martial arts event held on May 10, 2014, at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Background The event was the second time that the organization has held a ...

. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. A rescheduled bout with Chris Camozzi took place on September 5, 2014 at

UFC Fight Night 50 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

. Natal defeated Camozzi via split decision. Natal next faced Tom Watson on January 31, 2015 at

UFC 183 ''UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz'' was a mixed martial arts event held on January 31, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Background The event was headlined by a middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Sil ...

. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Natal faced Uriah Hall on May 23, 2015 at UFC 187. Natal defeated Hall via split decision. Natal faced Kevin Casey on January 30, 2016 at

UFC on Fox 18 ''UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader'' (also known as ''UFC on Fox 18'') was a mixed martial arts event held on January 30, 2016, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Background The event was headlined by a potential UFC Light Heavyweight C ...

. He won the fight via TKO in the third round. Natal faced

Robert Whittaker Robert Whitaker or Whittaker may refer to: *Robert Whittaker (fighter) (born 1990), Australian mixed martial artist *Robert Whitaker (equestrian) (born 1983), British showjumper *Robert Whitaker (author) (active since 1989), American author *Robert ...

on April 23, 2016 at

UFC 197 ''UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux'' was a mixed martial arts event held on April 23, 2016, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Background The event's number was initially planned for an event taking place on March 5, 2016 at HSBC Are ...

. Natal lost the back and forth fight via unanimous decision. Natal next faced Tim Boetsch on November 12, 2016 at

UFC 205 ''UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor'' was a mixed martial arts event promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on November 12, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In what was described by UFC president Dana White as ...

. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Natal was expected to face

Alessio Di Chirico Alessio Di Chirico (born December 12, 1989) is an Italian former mixed martial artist who competed in Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Di Chirico was born in Rome, Italy. He attended University of ...

on July 22, 2017 at

UFC on Fox 25 ''UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum'' (also known as ''UFC on Fox 25'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on July 22, 2017 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Background ...

. However, Di Chirico pulled out in the weeks leading up to the event with a neck injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer

Eryk Anders Eryk Ryan Anders (born April 21, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former American football linebacker. He competes in the Middleweight division of the UFC. He played college football at the University of Alabama. Ear ...

. Natal lost the fight via knockout in the first round. After Natal retired from professional fighting, he took up the role as the president of Dominance MMA in Brazil.

Retirement

On October 2, 2017, Natal announced his retirement as a professional MMA fighter, with a record of 21-9-1.

Championships and accomplishments

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

** Fight of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

Official UFC Profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Natal, Rafael Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Brazilian male mixed martial artists Sportspeople from Minas Gerais Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Middleweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Sportspeople from Belo Horizonte Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Living people 1982 births