Photo by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Rafael Natal is getting a big opportunity in his MMA career, stepping in for Lyoto Machida to face Tim Kennedy at UFC Fight for the Troops 3, the fighter confirmed on Tuesday.
An initial report from FOX Sports said Natal would face Kennedy at the Nov. 6 event. The fighter later confirmed the fight via Twitter.
“Thank u @ufc @danawhite and all the fans for this big opportunity,” Natal wrote, adding, “trust me guys @TimKennedyMMA are in trouble.”
Natal is a winner of three consecutive fights in the octagon, his last loss occurring more than a year ago. The fighter gained his opportunity to fight Kennedy when the American’s original opponent, Machida, was shifted over to the UFC Fight Night 30 main event in Manchester, England.
Kennedy is new to the UFC, winning his organizational debut over Roger Gracie at UFC 162 last July. The fighter is most notable for his time in Strikeforce, where he twice contended for the organization’s middleweight title.
UFC Fight for the Troops 3 takes place at the Fort Campbell military base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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