The Natividad brothers are set to make it a family affair at LFA 220 this Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona, as both Kevin and Christian step into the spotlight on home turf.
In a night that could redefine their paths, the duo looks to deliver statement performances in front of a hometown crowd eager to see them rise.
For Kevin (9-4) Saturday marks a long-awaited return to action in his first fight since 2022. A string of injuries, opponent withdrawals, and failed bookings have delayed his comeback, but he now gets his moment at LFA 220 against Ryan Kuse.
“I’ve been trying to fight. I was booked to fight in 2023 a couple times so it was kind of out of my control for the most part. If I didn’t get injured, my opponents would pull out. There would always be something,” Kevin told Cageside Press.
“I’m coming back because, that’s the main thing, I’m not done fighting yet. I want to continue fighting.”
His younger brother Christian (7-0) isn’t just preparing for his own fight, he’s drawing strength from his brother being on the same card. The siblings have shared this stage before, and history suggests it brings out the best in both of them. Fighting side by side in their hometown adds an extra layer of motivation.
“I’m more so excited than nervous, you know, usually when he’s fighting just him on a card, typically I’m pretty nervous, but we feed off each other,” Christian said.
“We’ve fought on two MMA cards together, then we also competed on Fight2Win (a Jiu-Jitsu promotion) together, and we’ve always came out on top. We feed off that same energy so come Saturday I’m going to be super excited to have him on the card with me.”
Kevin didn’t hold back when asked about his brother’s matchup, offering a confident breakdown of why he believes Christian will dominate on fight night. Having seen firsthand the evolution of his brother’s game, Kevin has no doubt that Christian’s skill set is being underestimated. To him, the outcome feels inevitable.
“I just don’t think that guy is going to be able to hang with Christian. The pressure, the grappling, the striking. I know this guy’s more like a Jiu-Jitsu-ish kind of guy. Everyone kind of forgets that Christian’s a really good grappler too,” Kevin said.
“And that blows my mind. D1 college wrestler (Arizona State) come on. He competed at brown belt as a purple belt in the Fight2Win pro thing almost ten years ago and he won that pretty one-sided. After the first round, if that guy doesn’t quit on the stool, I don’t see it going past the second.”
Christian also returned the praise, making it clear the respect and belief goes both ways. He’s been right there for every step of Kevin’s preparation and knows exactly what has gone into this comeback. From the outside, fans see results, but Christian has seen the grind.
“I’ve been there a part of pretty much all of his camps. I see the work that he’s put in throughout drilling, sparring, even strength and conditioning. So I see all the work that he puts in, and this guy trains hard,” Christian said.
“It’s hard to put a list of people that train harder than my brother. Come fight day I’m pretty sure he’s going to come out, give it his all, and we’ll see what happens.”
A win on Saturday would send a clear message to the division that “Quicksand” is back with a vengeance. Kevin isn’t interested in handpicking opponents; he just wants to fight. After years of setbacks and inactivity, he’s ready to make up for lost time and take on anyone willing to step in after LFA 220.
“Anybody, anytime, anywhere, any weight. I’m down to do a catchweight. I’ll fight anybody, bro,” Kevin said.
Christian is hoping Saturday’s performance does more than just secure a win, he wants it to change his career trajectory. A statement finish should be enough to make the decision easy for the UFC matchmakers.
“You already know! Dana White, Mick Maynard, Sean Shelby! Call your boy up! I know I missed the interviews (DWCS) last time, but hopefully I could just get the job right away and can skip the interview,” Christian said.
With both brothers healthy, locked in, and fueled by the energy of a hometown crowd, LFA 220 has the potential to be a career-defining night for the Natividads. A pair of statement wins could not only reignite Kevin’s resurgence but also launch Christian straight into UFC contention.
In Phoenix, surrounded by family, friends, and a city that knows their story, the stage is set for the Natividad brothers to remind the MMA world exactly who they are.
Watch the entire interview with Kevin and Christian Natividad above.
