STEROID
02-05-2012, 02:09 PM
UFC 143 results: Though tested, Rafael Natal bests newcomer Michael Kuiper
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1019/72807029.jpg (http://bodybuilderselite.com/bbelite/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg1 63%2F1019%2F72807029.jpg)
It wasn't easy – and it took some a late-fight survival – but Rafael "Sapo" Natal got the win.
The middleweight scored a unanimous-decision victory in a hard-fought bout and delivered Dutch newcomer Michael Kuiper his first career loss.
The bout was part of the UFC 143 preliminary card and streamed on Facebook from Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center. It preceded additional prelims on FX and a pay-per-view main card.
Natal scored five first-round takedowns, though Kuiper avoided any substantial damage and quickly worked his way to back to his feet on the first four. On the final takedown, Natal worked an armbar but didn't have the position. However, with Kuiper's offensive mostly muted, Natal took the round.
Kuiper's takedown defense was more effective in the second round, and as a tiring Natal chased to close the distance, he was popped with some heavy punches. Natal, though, returned fire, and the second half of the round turned into a slugfest. With a late takedown and a bigger output of punches, Natal took a 2-0 lead.
However, in the third round, Kuiper dropped Natal with a big right, connected with a left, and then followed him to the mat with hammerfists and punches. Although clearly dazed, Natal slowed the assault and tied up his opponent, and he then returned to his feet and got another takedown. From there, Natal used dominant top positions, ground and pound, and an arm-triangle-choke attempt to survive the round and get the unanimous-decision victory.
Ultimately, the judges awarded him the win via 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 scores. But he knows he dodged a bullet after eating that vicious right.
"It was bad because it was the beginning of the round," Natal said. "Everything went dark, but my jiu-jitsu saved me again."
Natal (14-3-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC) now has won back-to-back fights and is 4-1-1 over his past six fights. Kuiper (11-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffers the first loss of his pro career.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1019/72807029.jpg (http://bodybuilderselite.com/bbelite/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg1 63%2F1019%2F72807029.jpg)
It wasn't easy – and it took some a late-fight survival – but Rafael "Sapo" Natal got the win.
The middleweight scored a unanimous-decision victory in a hard-fought bout and delivered Dutch newcomer Michael Kuiper his first career loss.
The bout was part of the UFC 143 preliminary card and streamed on Facebook from Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center. It preceded additional prelims on FX and a pay-per-view main card.
Natal scored five first-round takedowns, though Kuiper avoided any substantial damage and quickly worked his way to back to his feet on the first four. On the final takedown, Natal worked an armbar but didn't have the position. However, with Kuiper's offensive mostly muted, Natal took the round.
Kuiper's takedown defense was more effective in the second round, and as a tiring Natal chased to close the distance, he was popped with some heavy punches. Natal, though, returned fire, and the second half of the round turned into a slugfest. With a late takedown and a bigger output of punches, Natal took a 2-0 lead.
However, in the third round, Kuiper dropped Natal with a big right, connected with a left, and then followed him to the mat with hammerfists and punches. Although clearly dazed, Natal slowed the assault and tied up his opponent, and he then returned to his feet and got another takedown. From there, Natal used dominant top positions, ground and pound, and an arm-triangle-choke attempt to survive the round and get the unanimous-decision victory.
Ultimately, the judges awarded him the win via 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 scores. But he knows he dodged a bullet after eating that vicious right.
"It was bad because it was the beginning of the round," Natal said. "Everything went dark, but my jiu-jitsu saved me again."
Natal (14-3-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC) now has won back-to-back fights and is 4-1-1 over his past six fights. Kuiper (11-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffers the first loss of his pro career.