The Genuinely Interested Podcast Ep 64 - Natan Levy - UFC Star In The Making
Natan Levy is a recently signed UFC fighter. He was called upon by the UFC to appear on Dana White's Contender Series on 2 days' notice. After getting the "ok" from his team, he said yes - and the rest, as they say, is history. Natan is one of the first Israeli fighters to ever compete in the UFC, which is the most coveted, prestigious, top-level organization in the world when it comes to mixed martial arts.
7 years ago, Natan came to the US with a dream - to be a fighter in the top organization in the world - the UFC. He is currently undefeated, fighting in the regional circuit with very impressive wins, and varied submissions, which were what led him to the biggest MMA stage in the world. On the night where it was "make it or break it" - he rose to the occasion and defeated his opponent in the 3rd via an arm-triangle choke. I hope to see Natan fight next year and represent his country on the world stage.
Natan and I discuss:
- The shark-infested waters of the 155 division
- Why he chose to train in Japan
- The MMA scene in Israel
- Why it's so difficult to be from Israel and succeed in MMA
- How he got the call to fight for the UFC
- How important it is to know English to promote yourself
- Why you never quit on your dreams
And much more...
My Take: What most people don't see when they see an "overnight success" are the hard years filled with doubt (in Natan's case, 7 hard years), financial problems, and physical difficulties and injuries. Often times we envy the result without wanting the burden of hard work. Natan put in years of work for this result, and to accomplish his dream. You want results? Hard work + time will get you there.
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