Natan Levy has come a long way from securing a Ultimate Fighting Championship contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 to establishing a foothold with a pair of victories under the UFC banner. For the 32-year-old Israeli standout, victory extends beyond personal achievement; it is about inspiring others and representing his homeland with pride. He grasps the gravity of shouldering the aspirations of a nation and remains keenly cognizant of the impact of his success on Israel.
Ahead of Levy’s looming showdown with Davis, here are five things you might not know about him:
1. He did not let boundaries stand in his way.
Levy was born in Paris to a traditional Jewish family. As a toddler, he relocated to Israel, where he spent his formative years in Herzliya. During his teenage years, Levy’s fascination with martial arts blossomed, driving him to commit to rigorous training sessions of up to three hours daily by age 15. By the age of 17, his steadfast dedication paid off as he earned the revered distinction of black belt in Chinese martial arts. Levy’s determination to expand his martial arts knowledge drove him to overcome geographical barriers, embarking on a pilgrimage to Okinawa, Japan, where he earned his black belt in karate at the age of 18.
2. He found strength in strife.
His childhood was marred by the upheaval of his parents’ divorce at the age of 4. The divorce left Levy grappling with emotional turmoil, compounded by the absence of his father and the challenges of adapting to a new country. He would get mocked for his French accent in school, and young Levy would find himself embroiled in frequent conflict while navigating the labyrinth of identity and belonging. “I would just fight all the time,” he said in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I also had a French accent, so kids would make fun of me, which would lead me to attack them. I fought at least once every recess.”
3. Leaving his comfort zone was not an issue.
Preceding his foray into professional MMA, Levy’s next chapter unfolded with a period of leadership and proficiency as a martial arts instructor in Tel Aviv, Israel. With a third-degree black belt in Uechi-Ryu karate and an insatiable appetite to test himself against the best in the world, “Lethal” took a bold step to move to Las Vegas at the age of 22. During that time, he would often shuttle between the United States and Israel, juggle training sessions in Las Vegas before traveling back to make money.
4. Defeat was undeniably sour.
Following his first professional loss in his UFC debut against Rafa Garcia in November 2021, Levy found himself grappling with conflicting emotions. Contrary to the anticipated jubilation, the debut was shrouded in disappointment in the presence of his wife, friends and teammates. He admitted that he was not the life of the afterparty. Yet, despite the contrast of inner turmoil, he projected an outward appearance of being alright for the sake of those who came to support him. “On the inside, it was a pretty dark room, but outside, I had everybody that supports me around, so, of course, it’s not the end of the world,” Levy said in an April 2022 interview with UFC.com. “I was devastated by it, but I don’t think crying about it is going to help.”
5. His preparation extends beyond physical realms.
Levy spends a lot of time meditating, which he believes is based on being fully present in the moment. He draws from his experiences in combat sports, where he endured grueling training sessions and learned the art of mental fortitude and resilience. The way he sees it, meditation manifests as complete immersion in action, where instinct and muscle memory take over. The ultimate goal is to reach fluidity, without the burden of conscious thought, and drilling these techniques until they become second nature allows him to flow effortlessly in the heat of battle.