Rafael Natal To Face Tim Kennedy At UFC Fight For The Troops 3
Rafael Natal will face Tim Kennedy at UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 in November.
Kennedy was originally supposed to face Lyoto Machida, which would have marked the Dragon’s middleweight debut. But when Michael Bisping was forced to withdraw from UFC Fight Night 30 due to an eye injury, Machida was called in to replace him in the main event against Mark Munoz.
Kennedy, who said in August that he was “thrilled” to fight Machida, was left without an opponent and told Munoz on Twitter that he was “super mad” he took Machida from him. Kennedy then called out just about every active middleweight on the UFC’s roster to fight in Machida’s place.
Kennedy wrote to Natal, “Opportunity knocks @rafaelsaponatal. You always win, but no one knows who you are. When I’m done with you, neither will you(Tough guy voice)”
UFC officials confirmed the bout Tuesday.
Natal was scheduled to fight Ed Herman at UFC 167 in November, but was pulled from the match. A new opponent for Herman has yet to be found.
Tim Kennedy is one of the few fighters to simultaneously serve full-time in the United States Army while fighting professionally, having joined in January 2004. He completed Ranger School in 2007 and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and was awarded the Army’s Bronze Star Medal with V device, which was awarded for valor under fire.
The 34-year-old made his UFC debut against Roger Gracie at UFC 162 in July, winning the match by unanimous decision. After the loss, the promotion let Gracie’s contract expire and chose not to renew it.
Rafael Natal enters the match with three consecutive victories going back to January of this year. HIs most recent was against Tor Troeng at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader last month. He won by unanimous decision, and the match earned Fight of the Night.
UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 will be held November 5 at Fort Campbell in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
