The Pride of Israel: Natan Levy’s Ascent to the UFC

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In a matter of days, Natan Levy will become the third-ever fighter from Israel to compete in the UFC Octagon, joining a short list that includes Moti Horenstein and Noad Lahat. Levy enters the Nevada-based promotion at the age of 30 and features a clean record of six victories and no defeats. He will lock horns with former Combate Americas champion Rafa Garcia, with both men looking for their first UFC victory. Overall, the combined record of Levy’s opponents is 18 wins and 18 losses, a perfectly even 50% winning percentage.

After coming into this world in Paris, France, Levy soon moved to Israel with his family, where he nourished his passion for martial arts. As a teenager, he took up karate and kung fu before transitioning to mixed martial arts in his twenties. One day, Levy packed his things up and moved to train at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, Nevada, following his dream to fight in the UFC one day. Once in the United States, he dedicated himself body and soul to grappling and adapting his peculiar fighting style to MMA.

Levy’s professional debut took place in 2018 after the 26-year-old signed with Legacy Fighting Alliance. On that occasion, Levy had very little chance to showcase his striking arsenal as he moved the action to the mat as soon as possible. By doing so, he proved that he’s quite a quick learner, submitting his opponent with an armbar just 85 seconds into the fight. In his next fight, Levy would submit Cameron Underhill with a first-round guillotine choke. Altogether, his first pair of professional fights lasted a combined 116 seconds.



The Israeli fighter’s will and cardio were truly tested when he fought at altitude on the LFA 58 card in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That night, he had to sweat out a unanimous decision victory over his stout dancing partner, Henry Barahona. Levy entertained the fans with some side kicks and other karate strikes before finding himself pinned on the mat by his wrestler opponent for the rest of the round. Levy opted to take Barahona down in Round 2, displaying his agility on the canvas. The third frame saw both contestants exchanging on the feet, where Levy had no difficulty in outstriking his opponent. Ultimately, all three judges scored 29-28 for Levy, who still recalls that fight as one of the toughest ones he had in his career.



After going all 15 minutes for the first time in his career, Levy fought to another decision when he overcame Nicholas Badis at LFA 69. He then faced another tough test in Ben Lugo at LFA 88. At first, it appeared to be easy night at the office for Levy, who exhibited that wrestling was definitely part of his arsenal in the opening frame, suffocating his opponent with takedowns. Levy saw some real adversity in the second frame after Lugo reached him with a right hook that knocked him down. Levy someway survived the volley that followed as the referee was inches away from stopping the contest. Still, Levy recomposed and shot for a takedown, forcing Lugo to grapple and waving off the storm. In Round 3, Levy overwhelmed his opponent on the canvas once again before hearing that he earned a majority decision victory.



His life dream of competing in a big-league came true when he agreed to face Shaheen Santana on just five days' notice at Dana White's Contender Series in November 2020. Levy even took a 160-pound catchweight for the occasion after spending all his career at featherweight. The risk was worth it, even if his opponent was taller and had a longer reach than Levy. Levy played his usual game, suffocating his opponent with takedowns and dominating him on the canvas, where he looked for submissions on several occasions. The opportunity to finish Santana came in Round 3 after Levy squeezed a tight arm-triangle choke to put the submission specialist Santana out of his senses and pocket a UFC contract.

PUT HIM TO SLEEP!@Levy_Natan showed why he's dangerous everywhere

[ #DWCS on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Sy7jNlWFlP

— UFC (@ufc) November 11, 2020

The Nevada-based organization matched Levy with Austin Hubbard at UFC on ESPN 22, but he was injured before the fight, forcing him to postpone his promotional debut. Now, he squares off with Garcia on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 198.