Rafael Natal
Dutch middleweight makes UFC debut in February
Unbeaten Dutch middleweight Michael Kuiper has signed with the UFC and will make his debut with the promotion at UFC 143 against Rafael Natal.
The UFC announced the signing and fight booking on Tuesday and also confirmed the co-main event for the UFC 143 Super Bowl weekend card – Carlos Condit vs. Josh Koscheck. The winner of that welterweight fight likely gets first crack at the pay-per-view’s main event winner between champion Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz.
Kuiper (11-0) has 10 of his 11 career wins by stoppage – including nine straight. The judo black belt has six knockouts and four submissions on his resume, all in fights in Europe. Kuiper made his pro debut in 2009, going 7-0 that year.
Natal (13-3-1, 1-1-1 UFC) got his first UFC win in August after a loss in his debut and a draw his second time out. He beat Paul Bradley by unanimous decision at UFC 133 in Philadelphia.
UFC 143 will take place Feb. 4 in Las Vegas with the aforementioned St-Pierre vs. Diaz as the headliner and Condit-Koscheck as the co-main event.