+NEWS
UFC NEWSPFL NEWSBELLATOR NEWSWOMEN'S MMA NEWS
+FEATURES
PREVIEWSOPINIONINTERVIEWS
+FIGHT FINDER
UFC EVENTSBELLATOR EVENTSPFL EVENTSFULL CALENDARFIGHT FINDER GUIDE
+PODCASTS
SHILLAN & DUFFY PODCASTTHE SHEEHAN SHOWFIGHT BUSINESS PODCASTAFTER THE BELL
VIDEOS
+RANKINGS
DIVISIONAL RANKINGSWOMEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGSPOUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS
+FORUM
UFC DISCUSSIONWORLDWIDE MMA DISCUSSIONOFF TOPIC DISCUSSIONPHOTOSHOPS
+BOXING
BOXING NEWSBOXING DISCUSSIONKICKBOXING AND MUAY THAIBARE KNUCKLE BOXINGGRAPPLING
+MORE
PICTURESHOW TO WATCHCONTACT
FIGHT ODDS
NGANNOU VS FERREIRA

UFC 133 Preview: The Prelims

Jason ProbstAug 02, 2011
Rafael Natal (left) seeks his first Octagon win in three tries at UFC 133. | Photo: Peter Lockley


Middleweights
Rafael Natal (12-3-1, 0-1-1 UFC) vs. Paul Bradley (18-2, 1 NC, 0-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Bradley debuts in the UFC after an aborted run on Season 7 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” where he was forced to leave the show after a contagious skin condition was revealed. He has finished his last five opponents and took this fight on short notice after Constantinos Philippou moved into a main card bout against Jorge Rivera.

Natal -- a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who trains with Renzo Gracie -- has not yet tasted victory inside the Octagon, losing a decision to Rich Attonito and settling for a draw with Jessie Bongfeldt after opening strong in the first two rounds.

The Pick: This is Bradley’s fight to lose. With an edge in wrestling -- he was a two-time All-American at the University of Iowa -- he will be motivated and ready to hammer out a decision.

Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.