Natan Levy

Rafa Garcia vs. Natan Levy

Round 1
Now in three of five matches on the card so far, one UFC fighter will likely pick up their first win. Whether it is ex-Combate champ Garcia (11-2, 0-2 UFC) or unbeaten Israeli upstart Levy (6-0, 0-0 UFC), referee Jason Herzog draws the charge and is ready for what happens next. No one wants to touch gloves, and instead Garcia marches forward to pressure the newcomer. Levy avoids a punch combination and just skims the top of his foe’s head with a kick. Garcia gives it back with a few punches, and they slug it out before returning to the center of the cage. The Israeli fighter throws so hard that he falls to a knee, and Garcia grabs hold of his neck to hold him down and consider a choke attempt. Levy on one knee fights off the back take tries of “Gifted,” but he cannot break this head lock grip until Garcia pushes through to take him down. Levy is quick to roll to his knees and back up, and they trade single punches. Levy sits down on a body kick, and he chops at Garcia’s lead calf. Again, Levy swings with all his might to take him off-balance, and Garcia sees this and avoids the wind-up. Levy lets loose with a high kick that misses the mark, and Garcia tags him with a right hand. As Levy aims a counter, Garcia is faster and slugs him with an overhand right. Standing right in front of the other, they proceed to trade at will one after the other. Garcia fires a body kick that gets caught, and Levy pursues a takedown from it but cannot ground Garcia. Instead, Garcia pulls his leg out and grabs hold of Levy to push him into the wire. As Garcia grinds him against the fence, Levy sweeps the leg out and drops Garcia down to the mat. Garcia gathers himself, gets up, and hits his own single to put Levy down seconds before the round ends. The frame concludes with Garcia on top.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Levy
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 2
They both trade strikes to start off the round, and as Levy tries to go up high with a kick, Garcia catches it. “Gifted” takes advantage of a gift opportunity to plant Levy on his back, and the newcomer is able to blast right back up to his feet. When they break, it is Garcia who scores with a straight right hand, while Levy’s attempt to knock his head off goes wide as he throws too hard. They both get back to boxing range and bang it out, before deciding to alternate with kicks. Levy just misses with a left hand, and Garcia counters him with a left hook. Garcia is able to deliver a kick to the body, but Levy does not miss a beat and gives him one right back that lands with an audible thud. Levy’s head kick glances off the shoulder, and he digs one to the body that makes Garcia grimace. Garcia charges ahead, loading up on power punches to get Levy to backpedal, but Levy stands firm and throws back. Garcia scores a clean one-two, and Levy’s kicks land heavily in response. As Garcia plods forward, Levy grabs him and takes him down. Garcia walks up to his feet as Levy takes his back standing, and when Garcia gets up, Levy wrenches him right back down to the mat. Garcia, on one knee, lets go with no-look elbows that do not do much. Instead, Garcia fights the hands, and he powers up as he watches himself on the video screen. When they both get upright, Garcia pursues a single, but Levy stops it and kicks him in the head. As soon as Levy puts his foot down, he dives in for a single, only to get stuffed. Garcia walks straight into a knee to the side, and Levy boots him in the body right after. As he is eating these strikes unanswered, he grits it out and swarms ahead to take Levy down. Levy rolls to his knees, gets punched in the side of the head, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Levy
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Levy

Round 3
Right before the final frame opens, Levy has to get tape cut off, buying the fighters a few extra seconds of recovery. Levy strides out of his corner when it begins with a loud kick to the body. Garcia answers with a kick on the inside thigh, only for it to clatter off the cup. Levy waves it off and they back off to re-find their range. Levy engages first after a brief staring contest, with a head kick that is partly blocked. Garcia aims a counter, only to get uppercutted for his trouble. Garcia pursues a takedown, and when Levy pushes him off, he throws a looping punch that misses and allows Garcia to latch on to him like an Alabama tick. Levy is able to remain on his feet and fight out of the clinch, but Garcia marks him up with several uppercuts before the separation. Garcia dives forward with a takedown effort, and Levy stands him up, clinches with him and knees “Gifted” in the body several times. A spinning back kick from Levy lands cleanly to the liver, and Garcia grits his teeth and goes after a takedown. They clash heads, and Levy drops to a knee while he tries to gather himself and stand back up. Garcia relentlessly goes after takedown after takedown, bullying the unbeaten fighter into the fence until Levy explodes and wings a right hand that misses. Levy gathers his thoughts and changes levels for his own takedown, and Garcia’s sprawl stops this from succeeding. Garcia times a knee to the head just after Levy pulls his hands off the ground, and Levy groans. They split apart, and when Levy swings for the bleachers, Garcia hits a picturesque takedown to plant Levy on his back for the remainder of the round. Levy pulls rubber guard, but there are no submissions to be found as Garcia lands punches from on top to the final bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (29-28 Garcia)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (29-28 Garcia)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (29-28 Garcia)

The Official Result
Rafa Garcia def. Natan Levy via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)