Photos Credit: James Williams III, Courtesy of the U.S. Army
Israeli UFC Vet Natan Levy Leads Martial Arts Seminar for Troops at Fort Irwin
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — UFC Veteran and MMA lightweight expert Natan Levy spent this past weekend embedded with the soldiers of the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, joining a delegation of elite combat sports professionals for a weekend of martial arts instruction, combat training, and judging a military base championship competition.
Levy was among a group of martial arts legends who led a four-hour seminar covering both combat sports and military combative techniques, helping soldiers prepare for the base’s championship competition, which he judged alongside Jiu-Jitsu Master Carlos Machado. The training was designed to bridge elite combat sports methodology with 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,” said Natan Levy, 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 delegation was organized by martial arts legends Dr. Neil Farber and Shihan Vince Cecere, and the event was hosted by Command Sergeant Major Lyles and Colonel Chadwick. The weekend represented the intersection of professional combat sports and military service—a collaboration between two worlds that share a foundation in discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of physical excellence.
About Natan Levy:
Natan Levy is an Israeli professional mixed martial artist, UFC veteran, and 2x Ultimate Self-Defense Championship winner. Born in France and raised in Israel, Levy is known for his technical expertise and relentless fighting style. An expert in karate and jiu-jitsu, Levy is also recognized for his outspoken stance against antisemitism and hate. He is based in Las Vegas, where he trains full-time.
