UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Proves He's Real Deal by Crushing Michael Kuiper

After a slow start to his UFC career, Rafael Natal showed off some tremendous potential in his destruction of Michael Kuiper on Saturday night.

The Brazilian middleweight dominated all three rounds, never giving Kuiper a chance to regroup. There were a couple points throughout the bout when it appeared Natal was about to score a knockout, but he ended up settling for a unanimous decision victory.

It's a win that moves his career record to 14-3-1, but it stands at just 2-1-1 in UFC fights after joining the sport's top brand in late 2010. That's why his fight at UFC 143 was so important, he needed to prove he can compete at a high level.

He did just that, using his versatility to keep Kuiper off balance for all three rounds. Natal has all the talent in the world, it's just about figuring out a way to utilize it on fight night. It's almost like he has too many weapons and can't key in on how to use them all effectively against UFC fighters.

The win should allow “Sapo” to move another rung up the ladder, giving him a chance to fight a more high-profile opponent in his next time out.

If he really wants to make a name for himself, however, he's going to need to start fighting more often. He's only entered the octagon three times since December 2010. Injuries have played a role, but there are guys out there fighting every few months to prove their worth.

Natal needs to do the same in the near future.

Otherwise, there's nothing stopping him from becoming a legitimate threat in the middleweight division. Once he learns to harness his power, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Don't be surprised if he picks up a more emphatic victory next time out; he looks to be on the cusp of something big. A quick knockout would put him on the right track.