UFC 147: What We Learned from Leonardo Mafra vs. Thiago Perpetuo

Leonardo Mafra and Thiago Perpetuo got the UFC 147 prelims on FX off to a great start.

It was a back-and-forth battle with Mafra coming out aggressive and likely winning Round 1 because of his pressure and the volume of strikes he landed. However, the tides changed in Round 2 when the fight went to the canvas.

Mafra came close to locking up an armbar, but Perpetuo was able to escape and wind up on top. From there, the round was all Perpetuo—though, it should be noted that Mafra did keep busy on his back—as he was able to land heavy ground-and-pound, including several devastating elbows.

In the third round, Perpetuo dropped Mafra with a clean right hand and followed up quickly with relentless ground-and-pound. Mafra did his best to cover up, but the fight was eventually stopped by referee Mario Yamasaki.

What we'll remember about this fight:

There are a couple of things.

Firstly, the aggressiveness of Mafra. In the first round, he was plodding forward the whole time and throwing tons of haymakers. It was fun to watch.

Secondly, the finish. It was a beautiful right hand from Perpetuo and could be a contender for Knockout of the Night honors.

What we learned about Mafra:

This guy comes to fight.

No matter where the fight is, he's trying his hardest and working to finish.

What we learned about Perpetuo:

He's a smart fighter.

He avoided getting into a wild striking match with Mafra. Instead, he picked his spots. It eventually paid off when he caught Mafra in the third.

What's next for Mafra:

Mafra is an exciting fighter, so I think the UFC will keep him around. The loser of Delson Heleno vs. Francisco Drinaldo could be next. 

What's next for Perpetuo:

Good win for Perpetuo. Next, he'll be matched up with someone who has a similar record. Buddy Roberts and Andrew Craig are possibilities.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a stand-up comedian. Check him out on Twitter @AndrewBarr8.