JERUSALEM (VINnews) — American mixed martial arts fighter Lando Vannata, a longtime UFC veteran known for his aggressive fighting style, revealed during a visit to Israel that he is Jewish through his mother before putting on tefillin for the first time at the Western Wall, according to Israeli media.

Vannata, 34, has competed professionally since 2012 and is best known for his years in the UFC, where he earned multiple Fight of the Night bonuses after making a memorable promotional debut against Tony Ferguson in 2016. Nicknamed “Groovy,” the New Jersey native has competed in both the lightweight and featherweight divisions and has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most entertaining fighters.

The American traveled to Israel ahead of the international GFN1 event and toured Ancient Shiloh in the Binyamin region alongside Israeli and international fighters. During the visit, he learned about the site’s biblical significance as the location where the Tabernacle stood for 369 years before the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

During the tour, Vannata spoke emotionally about discovering and embracing his Jewish roots.

“I’ve always known my mom is Jewish, but being here makes that connection feel real,” Vannata said, according to an Arutz Sheva report. “Learning about the history of the Jewish people and seeing these places with my own eyes is something I’ll never forget.”

He said visiting Israel had given him a deeper appreciation for his family’s heritage and the country’s history.

From Ancient Shiloh, Vannata traveled to Jerusalem, where he visited the Western Wall. Standing before Judaism’s holiest prayer site, he put on tefillin for the first time in his life with the assistance of local rabbis. He documented the moment in a video shared with his hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram.

Organizers said that within hours of posting the video, Vannata’s Instagram account lost approximately 1,900 followers. They said they believe the decline was connected to anti-Israel activity on social media following his visit and his public acknowledgment of his Jewish heritage. The reported loss of followers has not been independently verified, and no evidence has been presented establishing the reason for the decline.

Israel Ganz, who also serves as chairman of the Yesha Council, praised Vannata for publicly embracing his Jewish identity.

“We are proud of Lando for not being afraid to proudly reveal his Jewish identity and his connection to the Land of Israel,” Ganz said. “The fact that this journey began here, in Ancient Shiloh, is especially moving.”

Ganz called on Israelis to support Vannata on social media.

“Anyone who thinks people can be intimidated through boycott campaigns on social media is mistaken,” he said. “I call on all Israeli citizens to show Lando that he is not standing alone — to visit his social media pages, follow him and encourage him. Every show of support is a response to these attempts to silence him.”

Ganz added that the regional council would continue inviting influential visitors from around the world to Ancient Shiloh and the Binyamin region.

“Those who stand by the truth ultimately prevail,” he said. “We will continue bringing influential people from around the world to Ancient Shiloh so they can learn the true story of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel and become its ambassadors.”