Prospect In-depth: Christian Natividad

Flyweight
27-years-old
Five-foot-five
Scottsdale, Arizona, US
6-0
2 KO/TKO's
Combined opponent's record: 11-8

Boxing: A-
Kickboxing: C
Knockout power: B+
Explosiveness: A-
Footwork: B
Clinch: B+
Wrestling: A
Grappling: B+
Ground and Pound: A
Submission threat: D
Striking defense: C+
Takedown defense: A+
Grappling defense: A
Cardio: A
Fight IQ: B

Natividad honed his wrestling skills in high school while growing up in Hawaii before continuing his career at Arizona State University. Midway through the season, he made the transition to MMA, following in the footsteps of his older brother, former UFC fighter Kevin Natividad. Despite having just six professional fights, he’s accumulated over an hour and a half of total fight time, showcasing both experience and durability.

He burst onto the scene with two dominant finishes in under three minutes but has gone the distance in his last four fights, proving his ability to handle deep waters. Before turning pro, he built a solid foundation with five amateur bouts. Nicknamed "The Hawaiian Punch," he remains undefeated, demonstrating his ability to excel in all areas of the fight. While his opponents' combined records may not be the most impressive, his last two victories came against formidable competition. He has been tested, faced adversity, and proven he can push through tough moments—an essential trait for making it to the next level.

The fight begins on the feet, and that's where we’ll start. Natividad is a compact, pressure-heavy striker who relies on finding ways to get inside and work at his preferred range. He uses feints effectively to draw reactions, keep opponents guessing, and create openings. He slips off the centerline and crashes into the pocket with power and combinations. His left hand is his primary weapon, featuring a sharp lead hook, check hook, and power jab, but his overhand right is a major threat as well. He mixes up his targets well, attacking both the body and head with fluidity.

While his recent fights have gone the distance, he consistently inflicts damage and possesses legitimate knockout power. He may not be a volume striker who racks up points, but his game is built around impact—dropping opponents, busting them open, and making every shot count. He’s hurt every opponent he's faced except for one and has left his mark on every fighter who’s gone the distance with him.

That said, his biggest weakness is his striking defense. He tends to lean forward with his head, making him susceptible to extended combinations. While he moves well, he often lowers his hands when retreating, evading the first and second strikes but getting caught by the third or fourth. Head movement is a concern, but like many Hawaiian fighters, he has a tough chin. More often than not, he finds his opponent’s chin before they find his.

Despite his striking prowess, I believe Natividad is an even better wrestler and grappler. His timing on takedown entries is sharp, and if he doesn’t secure it on the first attempt, he seamlessly chains his attacks together. He excels at getting to the legs and securing high-impact takedowns.

Defensively, his wrestling is just as impressive. His takedown defense has held up well, showing excellent balance, smart underhook usage, and strong frames to shrug off opponents. While he can sometimes be too stagnant in the guard, he avoids risky scrambles that could cost him position. Instead, he stays active with short, damaging ground-and-pound. He’s a strong positional grappler who controls wrists well and lands effective strikes from the top position. Once he gets his opponent down, it’s tough for them to get back up—whether he’s controlling from the back or repeatedly dumping them back to the mat.

Natividad is an exciting, relentless, and adaptable fighter with a high ceiling. My only concern is his lack of activity, but now that he’s healthy, his only obstacle is getting opponents to sign the contract. With his well-rounded skill set and aggressive style, I expect a breakout year for him in 2025.