Rafael Natal

“Sapo”

MMA · Retired

21-9-1RECORD

4KO / TKO WINS

8SUBMISSION WINS

9DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Rafael Natal Diniz Franca
Nickname	Sapo
Date of birth	25 Dec 1982
Nationality	Brazilian
Birthplace	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Lives in	New York City, USA
Division	Middleweight
Team	Renzo Gracie Academy
Height	183 cm (6′0″)
Reach	193 cm (76″)
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	2005–2017
Status	Retired
Pro debut	6 May 2005
Last fight	Loss vs Eryk Anders, 22 Jul 2017

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

Former Ring of Combat Middleweight Champion
Fight of the Night (x1)

Background

Brazilian middleweight from Belo Horizonte and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who trained at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. He fought in the UFC from 2010 to 2017 and retired in October 2017.

Fight history

31 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Eryk Anders	KO (punches)	1	2:54	UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum	22 Jul 2017	Uniondale, New York, USA
Loss	Tim Boetsch	KO (punches)	1	3:22	UFC 205: Alvarez vs McGregor	12 Nov 2016	New York City, New York, USA
Loss	Robert Whittaker	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 197: Jones vs Saint Preux	23 Apr 2016	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Kevin Casey	TKO (punches)	3	3:37	UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Bader	30 Jan 2016	Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	Uriah Hall	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 187: Johnson vs Cormier	23 May 2015	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Tom Watson	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 183: Silva vs Diaz	31 Jan 2015	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Chris Camozzi	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs Mousasi	5 Sep 2014	Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Ed Herman	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Brown vs Silva	10 May 2014	Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Loss	Tim Kennedy	KO (punch)	1	4:40	UFC Fight Night: Fight for the Troops 3	6 Nov 2013	Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Win	Tor Troeng	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Bader	4 Sep 2013	Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil	Fight of the Night
Win	Joao Zeferino	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold	18 May 2013	Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Win	Sean Spencer	Submission (arm-triangle choke)	3	2:13	UFC on FOX: Johnson vs Dodson	26 Jan 2013	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Loss	Andrew Craig	KO (head kick)	2	4:52	UFC on FUEL TV: Munoz vs Weidman	11 Jul 2012	San Jose, California, USA
Win	Michael Kuiper	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 143: Diaz vs Condit	4 Feb 2012	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Paul Bradley	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 133: Evans vs Ortiz 2	6 Aug 2011	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Draw	Jesse Bongfeldt	Draw (majority)	3	5:00	UFC 124: St-Pierre vs Koscheck 2	11 Dec 2010	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Loss	Rich Attonito	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs Palhares	15 Sep 2010	Austin, Texas, USA
Win	Travis Lutter	KO (punches)	1	4:12	Moosin: God of Martial Arts	21 May 2010	Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Win	Allan Weickert	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:53	Ring of Combat 26	11 Sep 2009	Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Loss	Victor O'Donnell	TKO (doctor stoppage)	1	5:00	Ring of Combat 25	12 Jun 2009	Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA	Lost the Ring of Combat Middleweight Championship
Win	Plinio Cruz	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	3:13	Ring of Combat 24	17 Apr 2009	Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA	Defended the Ring of Combat Middleweight Championship
Win	Alexandre Moreno	KO (punch)	1	3:59	Ring of Combat 23	20 Feb 2009	Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA	Won the Ring of Combat Middleweight Championship
Win	Jon Kirk	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	3:19	SWC 2: Battleground	28 Nov 2008	Frisco, Texas, USA
Loss	Eduardo Telles	KO (head kick)	2	2:18	Fury FC 6: High Voltage	12 Jul 2008	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	Silmar Rodrigo	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Mo Team League 1	11 Aug 2007	Sao Paulo, Brazil
Win	Gerson Silva	Decision	3	5:00	XFC Brazil	29 Apr 2007	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	Nailson Bahia	Submission (armbar)	1	1:24	XFC Brazil	29 Apr 2007	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	Danillo Villefort	TKO (punches)	1		Gold Fighters Championship 1	20 May 2006	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	Carlos Eduardo dos Santos	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	2:46	Wild Fight 1	1 Oct 2005	Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Win	Walter Luis	Submission (keylock)	2	0:55	Champions Night 12	6 May 2005	Sao Paulo, Brazil
Win	Emerson Avila	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	1:58	Champions Night 12	6 May 2005	Sao Paulo, Brazil	Pro debut