FORT IRWIN, Calif. — UFC veteran and accomplished MMA lightweight Natan Levy recently spent a weekend at the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. He joined a select group of combat sports experts to provide comprehensive martial arts instruction, practical combat training, and to officiate a base championship competition for the soldiers.
Levy was part of an esteemed delegation of martial arts luminaries who conducted a four-hour seminar. This intensive session covered both modern combat sports techniques and essential military combatives, specifically designed to help soldiers prepare for the installation’s championship. He judged this competition alongside renowned Jiu-Jitsu Master Carlos Machado, with the entire training program aiming to seamlessly integrate elite combat sports methodologies with crucial real-world military readiness.
“The soldiers at Fort Irwin whom I had the pleasure of meeting take their training very seriously. They test themselves through grappling and full-contact competition with the intensity of the professional fighters I’ve spent my career competing against,” stated Natan Levy, the mixed martial artist. “It was an honor to share the mats with the men and women of the United States military and watch them compete and display their warrior spirit. I’m looking forward to coming back.”
The distinguished delegation was brought together by martial arts legends Dr. Neil Farber and Shihan Vince Cecere. Command Sergeant Major Lyles and Colonel Chadwick hosted the event, which beautifully illustrated the convergence of professional combat sports and dedicated military service. This collaboration underscored the shared foundational values of discipline, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of physical excellence inherent in both worlds.
About Natan Levy
Natan Levy is an Israeli professional mixed martial artist, a UFC veteran, and a two-time winner of the Ultimate Self-Defense Championship. Born in France and raised in Israel, Levy is recognized for his technical prowess and tenacious fighting style, holding expertise in both karate and jiu-jitsu. Beyond the octagon, Levy is also a vocal advocate against antisemitism and hate. He currently resides and trains full-time in Las Vegas.
