Nate Williams

Nate "Teddy Bear" Williams is a professional MMA fighter and bare-knuckle boxer with more than 17 years of experience. A former College All-American wrestler and high-level grappler, he is a two-time Bellator veteran, a bare-knuckle veteran signed with BKB, and a 16-time professional MMA title holder who has been a multiple-time title challenger and champion. He competes at 125 pounds in MMA and 126 pounds in bare-knuckle boxing. Outside the cage, he coaches MMA and grappling at Porcillies Training Center and has coached middle school, high school and youth wrestling, including with the Southeast Polk Jr. club. [Interview 2026-10-14] Williams says his career began by accident: he went to corner a high-school wrestling teammate, who had signed him up to fight. The "Teddy Bear" nickname came from high-school friends. He counts an MCC title won in 2012, when he fought twice in one night, as the most meaningful of his belts. He also competes in bare-knuckle boxing with BKB and coaches at Porcillies Training Center in the Des Moines area. Profile information last updated October 2026, from an MMA Futures interview ahead of AFC 71.