LAS VEGAS – Rafa Garcia defeated Nathan Levy in a unanimous decision on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 198 which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
After a rocky start with the UFC, Garcia was emotional after securing his first victory in his third bout with the promotion.
Rafa Garcia vs. Nathan Levy
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Rafa Garcia of Mexico punches Natan Levy of Israel in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 20, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Result: Rafa Garcia def. Nathan Levy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Rafa Garcia (13-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) vs. Nathan Levy (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stat: Saturday’s victory was Garcia’s first in three fights under the UFC banner.
Garcia on picking up his first UFC victory
“I felt like I was fighting for my job, you know? This win was very important for me and that’s part of the reason it was very emotional for me. I did camp for two months in Colorado and had to be away from my family – my newborn baby, my daughter, my wife. It was so hard when I wasn’t there.”
Back in the win column after a hard-fought battle 👏
🇲🇽 Rafa Garcia notches his first UFC victory inside the Octagon!
[ #UFCVegas43 | Prelims LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/N7ckBcCCYw
— UFC (@ufc) November 20, 2021
Garcia on wanting to get back his UFC losses
“I’m not allowed to ask for nobody right now, yet. I mean, I’d like to get back those losses I had. That’s something I’d like. I feel like I’m better than them, I just didn’t show it that day.”
To hear more from Garcia, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
