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http://mmajunkie.com/2016/02/rafael-natal-meets-robert-whittaker-at-ufc-197#
A middleweight matchup between Brazilian Rafael Natal and Australian Robert Whittaker is the latest addition to April’s UFC 197 event.
MMAjunkie today confirmed with multiple people with knowledge of the contest that both fighters have verbally agreed to the contest and bout agreements have been distributed. UFC officials are expected to make an announcement shortly.
Whittaker is currently ranked No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings.
Featuring a pair of championship matchups with Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo, UFC 197 takes place April 23 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view.
Natal (21-6-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) has been competing in the UFC since 2010 but is currently on the best run of his octagon stretch, as he earned four consecutive wins after notching victories over Kevin Casey, Uriah Hall, Tom Watson and Chris Camozzi.
Meanwhile, Whittaker (15-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) also boasts a four-fight winning streak, having downed Uriah Hall, Brad Tavares, Clint Hester and Mike Rhodes. The win over Rhodes was contested at welterweight, while the other three all took place at 185 pounds, as Whittaker elected to move up a weight class and is now 3-0 in the middleweight division.
A middleweight matchup between Brazilian Rafael Natal and Australian Robert Whittaker is the latest addition to April’s UFC 197 event.
MMAjunkie today confirmed with multiple people with knowledge of the contest that both fighters have verbally agreed to the contest and bout agreements have been distributed. UFC officials are expected to make an announcement shortly.
Whittaker is currently ranked No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings.
Featuring a pair of championship matchups with Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo, UFC 197 takes place April 23 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view.
Natal (21-6-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) has been competing in the UFC since 2010 but is currently on the best run of his octagon stretch, as he earned four consecutive wins after notching victories over Kevin Casey, Uriah Hall, Tom Watson and Chris Camozzi.
Meanwhile, Whittaker (15-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) also boasts a four-fight winning streak, having downed Uriah Hall, Brad Tavares, Clint Hester and Mike Rhodes. The win over Rhodes was contested at welterweight, while the other three all took place at 185 pounds, as Whittaker elected to move up a weight class and is now 3-0 in the middleweight division.
