Nathaniel Wood is an MMA fighter from South London who competes in the UFC's featherweight division. He first became known as the Cage Warriors bantamweight champion before joining the UFC in 2018. Now, he trains at Great Britain Top Team, where Brad Pickett and his father Gary coach him.

How Did Nathaniel Wood Get Into MMA?

Wood grew up around martial arts. His father, Gary, trained in different styles and still coaches him. Wood began kickboxing around age 10 and later learned Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a teenager. Learning both striking and grappling gave him a strong base for MMA.

By 16, Wood knew he wanted to compete. He started out on the UK regional scene, gaining experience before making his mark in Cage Warriors. Gary was involved throughout, helping him move from local events to the UFC. According to the GB Top Team fighter profile, Gary is one of the biggest influences on his career.

How Did Nathaniel Wood Become Cage Warriors Champion?

Wood became the Cage Warriors bantamweight champion by defeating Marko Kovacevic in 2017. His title defences led to two of the most memorable fights of his early career.

In his first title defence against Josh Reed, Wood took a lot of punches early in the first round. He came back, finished Reed with strikes later in the round, and kept his belt. His second defence was even quicker, as he knocked out Luca Iovine with a left hook in the first minute.

Cage Warriors highlighted Wood's title run, including both defences and his win for the belt. After beating Iovine, Wood went straight from Cage Warriors to the UFC.

When Did Nathaniel Wood Make His UFC Debut?

Wood made his UFC debut against Johnny Eduardo in June 2018. Eduardo was experienced, but Wood won with a brabo choke in the second round. He then got submission wins over Andre Ewell and José Quiñónez, quickly making a name for himself in the bantamweight division. His UFC athlete profile lists these early fights.

Moving to the UFC was a big step up from fighting in Britain and Europe, but Wood already had experience in title fights and tough rounds in Cage Warriors. His comeback against Reed especially showed how he could handle tough situations.

Why Did Nathaniel Wood Move to Featherweight?

Wood started his UFC career at bantamweight. After dealing with injuries and a long break from fighting, he came back in 2022 as a featherweight. Cutting down to bantamweight had become tough, and moving up allowed him to focus less on weight cutting during training.

Wood's first fight at featherweight was against Charles Rosa in London. Just a few weeks later, he faced Charles Jourdain in Paris. In a GB Top Team interview, Wood said having the gym close to home made him feel better prepared to fight at the new weight.

Moving to featherweight also changed the kind of opponents Wood faced. Featherweights are often bigger than those at bantamweight, but Wood says his speed gives him an edge. Cutting less weight has also made it easier for him to train and recover during fight camps.

Where Does Nathaniel Wood Train and Who Coaches Him?

Wood trains at Great Britain Top Team in Mitcham, South London. Brad Pickett is the head coach, and he noticed Wood's potential early in his career, before GBTT was founded. Gary Wood is still part of his coaching team.

For Wood, training at this gym means everything is in one place and close to home. He can work with his coaches and training partners without travelling far. This setup is practical and matches Pickett's goal for GB Top Team: to give British fighters a place to prepare for top-level competition without leaving the country.

What Is Nathaniel Wood's Fighting Style?

Wood is skilled at both striking and grappling. His kickboxing background shows in his stand-up, while his wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu help when the fight goes to the ground. He won his Cage Warriors title defences with punches, and his first three UFC wins were by submission.

This mix of skills describes Wood better than calling him just a striker or a submission specialist. GBTT says he is a well-rounded fighter trained in all areas of MMA. Wood has also talked about using his speed against bigger featherweight opponents. While his winning methods have changed over time, his ability to adapt in different parts of a fight has remained.

Why Is Nathaniel Wood Called "The Last Kingsman"?

For a long time, Wood used the nickname "The Prospect." It fit him as a young fighter making his way through Cage Warriors and into the UFC, but he later felt he had moved past it.

He picked the nickname "The Last Kingsman" after people said his sharp style reminded them of characters from the Kingsman movies. Wood told the UFC that the new name shows he is now an established fighter looking ahead, not just a newcomer waiting for his opportunity.

The nickname may be new, but the people supporting Wood have been with him for most of his journey. Gary Wood introduced him to martial arts, Pickett helped him grow as a fighter, and he still trains at GBTT. You can read more about Great Britain Top Team and Brad Pickett's role in creating the gym