R. Sapo will fight the second fight on the UFC 205 preliminary card. (Photo: Disclosure)
Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, middleweight Rafael Natal “Sapo” can say he will fight “at home” this Saturday (12), when he faces Tim Boetsch on the preliminary card of UFC 205, in New York. This is because the Brazilian lives and trains in a gym very close to Madison Square Garden, the gym where the event will take place. For Rafael, who has already fought in his hometown, it will be a dream come true to be able to fight where he currently lives.
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“I'm very excited to fight in this event. I've already fought in Belo Horizonte, which is my city, but since I moved, I've dreamed of fighting at Madison Square Garden, a dream that I'm going to fulfill now,” he said, in an interview with UFC Brasil.
Asked about his opponent's strengths, the Minas Gerais native showed that he had done his homework and analyzed Boestch's game, but highlighted that he is prepared to perform both standing up and on the ground.
“His weakness is the ground, keeping his back on the ground. He has good wrestling, he has a heavy hand, he takes down well and is difficult to take down, but I don't think he will want to take me down, because the ground is my area. The best thing would be to take him down, but I'm not going to spend all my energy on that either. I’ve been feeling good on my feet, I’ve been improving in this part”, declared Sapo.
For Natal, a victory this Saturday could put him close to the top 10 in the category and give him extra motivation for next year. “A good win could put me in the Top 10, and it would be a good way to start 2017,” he concluded.
At 33 years old, Rafael 'Sapo' can be considered a UFC veteran. With the organization since 2010, he has had 15 fights, with nine wins, five losses and one draw. In total, he has a professional record with 21 triumphs, seven setbacks and one draw.
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