Replacement Costantinos Phillippou meets Rafael "Sapo" Natal at UFC 133







Costantinos Phillippou (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has stepped in as a replacement for injured Riki Fukuda (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and now meets Rafael "Sapo" Natal (12-3-1 MMA, 0-1-1 UFC) at UFC 133.

Natal today tweeted word of the opponent change. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported earlier today, Fukuda today tweeted that he suffered a left-knee injury in a recent car accident and was forced off the card.

UFC 133 takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Aug. 6.

The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, though Phillippou vs. Natal is slated for the preliminary card.

Phillippou, a Serra-Longo Fight Team fighter, suffered an elimination-round loss to Joseph Henle on "The Ultimate Fighter 11." However, as a late replacement on the UFC 128 card, he signed a UFC contract and suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Nick Catone. Prior to the setback, the Ring of Combat veteran owned a seven-fight win streak with five stoppage victories.

Natal, who trains in New York City at Gracie Fusion, attempts his first UFC win for the third time. A veteran of the Brazilian fight circuit who later competed in the popular Northeast-based Ring of Combat, Natal signed with the UFC in 2010 and suffered a decision loss to Rich Attonito after he was dropped early. Then, despite a dominant start, he faded in the final round and fought replacement fighter Jesse Bongfeldt to a majority draw at UFC 124.



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