Ali Akbar Rosady
Brazilian lightweight Natan Schulte is set to make his highly anticipated return to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) cage on March 28 in Pittsburgh, marking just over 1,000 days since his last mixed martial arts (MMA) bout. The two-time PFL season winner, known for his dominant grappling and consistent performances, signed a new contract with the promotion years after a contentious departure stemming from a criticized clash with training partner and close friend Raush Manfio in June 2023.
Schulte’s career, which saw him capture the PFL Lightweight Championship in both 2019 and 2021 (the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), was put on an indefinite hold following the highly unusual circumstances of his bout against Manfio. The fight, a regular season fixture in the 2023 PFL Lightweight tournament, pitted two longtime teammates and friends from American Top Team (ATT) in Florida against each other. Manfio, a former 2021 PFL Lightweight champion himself, shares a particularly deep bond with Schulte, serving as the godfather to Schulte’s daughter.
The Professional Fighters League’s season format, which culminates in a playoff bracket and a $1 million prize for division champions, often necessitates difficult matchups between training partners. However, the Manfio-Schulte bout on June 23, 2023, drew widespread criticism from fans and analysts alike for its perceived lack of engagement and intensity. While Schulte secured a unanimous decision victory, his fourth consecutive win in the company after defeating Marcin Held, Jeremy Stephens, and Stevie Ray, the PFL deemed the performance unsatisfactory.
In an unprecedented move, the PFL suspended both Schulte and Manfio for allegedly failing to use their "best efforts… skills and abilities as a professional athlete to compete… and defeat any opponent," a clause typically found in fighter contracts to ensure competitive integrity. This suspension effectively removed both fighters from contention for the 2023 playoffs, despite Schulte’s victory placing him in a strong position.
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Reflecting on the incident as he prepares for his upcoming bout against undefeated prospect Jakub Kaszuba, Schulte admitted to MMA Fighting that he would approach the situation differently if given the chance. "I didn’t want to pull out of the fight, but today maybe I would have, knowing everything that actually happened," Schulte stated. He described the situation as "a pretty bad situation for both of us," adding, "I probably wouldn’t have fought because it ended up feeling kind of like a set-up fight or something like that. We agreed to fight, and the fight was really bad, it wasn’t what the fans wanted, but given the circumstances, we accepted it."
Schulte elaborated on the immediate aftermath and long-term consequences of the fight. "When the time came, though, the fight didn’t play out as expected and it turned into a very poor performance. After that, they basically gave me a ban, took me out of the tournament, kept me under contract for a while and then released me six months later. They held me for quite a long time. I could’ve looked for other opportunities sooner."
The suspension and subsequent contract holding period left Schulte in a unique professional limbo. Despite being unable to compete, he utilized the time to focus on recovery and personal development at American Top Team, one of the world’s premier MMA gyms. "I had enough money in the bank to fully focus on healing from injuries and evolving as an athlete in the American Top Team gym during his time away from competition for over two years to train without worrying about fights, dieting, and all that," he explained. This period allowed him to address lingering physical issues and refine his skillset without the immediate pressure of an upcoming fight camp.
After approximately five months, the PFL ultimately terminated Schulte’s contract, making him a free agent. During this time, he explored other opportunities within the sport. "I had a few offers and accepted some, but things didn’t work out on the opponents’ side," Schulte recalled. He even came close to securing a spot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s leading MMA promotion. "My manager even called asking if I could make weight on less than a month’s notice for a UFC fight, but the opponent didn’t accept or something like that, so it didn’t happen in the end."
Despite the challenging circumstances of his previous departure, Schulte re-signed with the PFL in late 2024, indicating a pragmatic and professional approach to his career. He stated there were "no hard feelings" regarding how the promotion handled his fight with Manfio, attributing much of the past decision-making to personnel who are no longer with the organization. "I see it as work, you know? I approach it professionally," Schulte affirmed. "Some of the people who were with the PFL back then are no longer there. Even the guy who pushed to match me up with Raush isn’t there anymore. Things have changed. I know some people are still around, but most of that management is gone. My relationship is purely professional. I wouldn’t have a problem with it though – some of them were still there when I signed again with PFL."
Schulte’s return bout on March 28 will see him face Jakub Kaszuba, an undefeated Polish lightweight with a professional record of 11-0. Kaszuba earned his spot on the PFL global roster after winning two seasons of PFL Europe as a lightweight champion in 2022 and 2023, showcasing a high level of talent and consistency in the regional circuit. This fight represents a significant test for both athletes: Schulte’s re-entry into the top tier of the PFL’s lightweight division and Kaszuba’s step up to face a seasoned, two-time champion.
Despite the controversy surrounding his last performance, Schulte expressed no additional pressure to deliver a spectacular, all-out brawl against Kaszuba. His focus remains on efficiency and securing a definitive victory. "I hadn’t even thought about it like that, of having to put on an amazing performance or go to war," Schulte explained. "In the end, I want to deliver results. I’m thinking about finishing the fight as quickly as possible, leaving the cage without getting hurt, and already looking ahead to the next one. What I really want is a quick performance, either a submission or a knockout."
Schulte acknowledged the fans’ desire for thrilling contests but emphasized his strategic goals within the PFL’s evolving structure. "I know fans want a war, they want a brawl, but I want to deliver a strong performance because now the promotion is entering a new format," he said. The PFL, having recently acquired Bellator MMA, has implemented a revised ranking system and competition structure aimed at enhancing fighter progression and divisional clarity. "There’s a ranking system now, you win and move up and position yourself as a top contender for the belt."
The matchup with Kaszuba will be a crucial indicator of Schulte’s form and ambitions as he embarks on this new chapter of his PFL career, aiming to once again ascend to the top of the lightweight division under a revamped competitive landscape. His extensive experience, coupled with the focused training during his hiatus, positions him as a formidable contender in a division teeming with talent.
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