Constantinos Phillippou Steps in To Face Rafael ‘Sapo’ Natal at UFC 133

Constantinos Phillippou

Riki Fukuda’s exit from UFC 133 has opened a slot for Constantinos Phillippou to step in and replace him against Rafael ‘Sapo’ Natal on August 6.

Natal made the announcement about his new opponent on Twitter on Monday.

“My new opponent will be Costas Phillippou,” wrote Natal.

Phillippou makes his second official appearance in the UFC after losing a decision to New Jersey fighter Nick Catone at UFC 128 in March.

Phillippou got a shot on the card as a late replacement and despite the loss will get another chance to prove himself in the Octagon in August.

Phillippou is a member of the Serra-Longo fight team in New York, which mades the bout with Natal even more intriguing as his long time training center is Renzo Gracie’s academy in New York. Gracie is of course the long time teach of UFC welterweight Matt Serra, who is Phillippou’s primary teacher.

The bout between Natal and Phillippou will be a preliminary fight on the night’s card.