Rafael Natal Before the UFC

Lytes Out Podcast

Rafael Natal BEFORE the UFC Ep 193
Rafael Natal had a 17 fight stint in the UFC; in this interview we concentrate on Rafael Natal journey from Brazil to becoming a household name.
Rafael Natal came highly recommended from Draculino and this interview does not disappoint.
0:00 Lytes out intro
0:19 Mike Davis guest introduction
0:39 interview start
1:10 early beginnings doing Judo
2:04 Getting introduced into Jiu-Jitsu
4:06 Rafael Natal’s early training partners
6:22 Rafael Natal being loyal to his coach
7:50 Earning Vinicius Draculino’s respect
10:07 Accepting challenge to fight 3 times in 1 night
11:15 Experience at championship night 12/ first thoughts when arriving to the event
14:59 Beating Valter Luiz Da Silva in the 2nd round
16:01 Rafael Natal’s family reaction to him winning the tournament
18:15 Experience with Gunnar Nelson
19:07 Where Rafael Natal’s work ethic comes from/ growing up poor
24:09 Rafael Natal being a true veteran of the sport
25:02 Realizing he was able to fight at an elite level
26:04 Training with Vitor Belfort
29:27 Fighting Danillo Villefort on short notice/ breaking hand during fight
34:20 Rafael Natal winning 2nd tournament with a broken hand
38:16 Payout for winning first tournament
38:52 Ali Abdelaziz
39:49 How Rafael Natal became friends with Ali Abdelaziz
41:57 Ali Abdelaziz taking him to the hospital to treat staph infection
43:37 Fighting Silmar Rodrigo
46:09 Dealing with first loss to Eduardo Telles
49:24 Relationship with Vinicius Draculino
51:54 Ali Abdelaziz getting fight set up with Jon Kirk
53:36 Experience with Lou Neglia
54:04 Ricardo Almeida’s wife gets Rafael Natal a contract with Ring of combat
54:50 Fighting Alexandre Moreno
55:53 First impressions of Renzo Gracie
56:43 Training with Chris Weidman
57:33 Beginning to train wrestling
58:59 Fighting Plinio Cruz
59:57 Losing to victor O’Donnell/ injuring knee 3 days before fight
1:03:21 Rafael Natal’s thoughts walking into the ring/ dealing with emotions the morning of his fights
1:06:02 training with André Gusmão
1:07:36 moving to New York from Brazil
1:09:12 Macaco rivalry with the Gracie’s
1:10:46 living full time in New York
1:11:45 Dealing with winter time in New York for the first time
1:12:27 Travis Lutter being the biggest fight of Rafael Natal’s career
1:14:23 Training with Ricardo Almeida/ first time meeting Ricardo Almeida
1:17:26 Teaching at Renzo Gracie’s school
1:20:16 Getting the call to fight for the UFC
1:20:55 Fight with Rich Attonito
1:23:35 Relationship with Joe Silva
1:24:39 Rafael Natal believing in Karma
1:25:28 Rafael Natal business plugs/ promotions
1:25:56 Having bad cardio during Jesse Bongfeldt fight
1:29:17 Rafael Natal’s corner not letting him go to the hospital
1:30:37 Fighting Paul Bradley on a week notice
1:32:06 Breaking hand during Paul Bradley fight
1:32:21 Phil Nurse
1:33:50 interview wrap up
1:39:53 Outro/ closing thoughts
Rafael Natal BEFORE the UFC Ep 192
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