This is the UFC on FX 8 live blog for Rafael Natal vs. Joao Zeferino, a middleweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Arena Jaragua in Brazil.
Natal, who has won three of his past four fights, will face Zeferino, who is making his UFC debut, on the main card.
Check out the UFC on FX 8 live blog below.
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Round 1: Both fighters open orthodox and Zeferino cracks Natal with a right hand early. Natal doing some slight pressuring throughout the first one-third of the round, but not getting much done. Natal eats a right hand, but fires one of his own and scores double underhooks. He attempts a body lock trip and ends up in mount. A 50/50 guard is scored as a consequence of a scramble. Neither fighter is able to gain an advantage and referee Leon Roberts stand them up.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Zeferino
Round 2: Zeferino misses on an overhand right, but Natal can't get anything going. Zeferino tries to score on a double, but Natal whizzers hard and stands immediately. Hard outside leg kick lands for Natal. Zeferino chases straight on a double and is stuffed. Now Natal has him in a front head lock, but Natal backs out and lets him up. Two right hands score for Zeferino, but no follow up. Zeferino misses on a spinning back fist and now Natal landing a few shots on top.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Natal
Round 3: Natal doing the pressing early, but cracks Natal with a right. Still, he's backing up and appears to be exhausted. Natal scores a low, hard outside leg kick and briefly has Zeferino's back. He loses position, but not before landing a few potshots. Then Zeferino responds with another right, but can't do anything with it. Zeferino tries to score double underhooks, but Natal pummels in and takes Zeferino to the floor. Natal moves to side and now mount with less than a minute left. Zeferino gives up the back briefly before rolling right to his back. And then gives up the back again.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Natal and the bout 29-28 Natal
Rafael Natal def. Joao Zeferino via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)