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Marcelo Mafra

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Marcelo Mafra, commonly known as ‘Lapela’, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Demian Maia, having worked extensively with other well-known instructors such as Everdan Olegário (Mestre Dan), Fernando Tererê, Lucas Leite and Leonardo Vieira. Mafra is well known for his achievements as a competitor on the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) circuit, with medals at the Brazilian, Pan, World NoGi and World Masters championships.

Marcelo Mafra Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Marcelo França Mafra

Nickname: The nickname Lapela (meaning lapel in Portuguese) started by way of Marcelo’s training partner Sergio Moraes when they shared the mats at the COHAB academy in São Paulo. Mafra was already a regular competitor at the time and used his judo experience to strangle many of his opponents with lapel chokes. For that reason, Moraes started calling him Mr. Lapela and the name ended up being associated with Marcelo throughout his career.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti (Cavalcante) > Fabio Gurgel > Demian Maia > Marcelo Mafra

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Masters (2016 Master 1)
  • 1st Place IBJJF World NoGi (2014/2016 Adult, 2017 Master 1)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan American (2018 Master 1)
  • 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian NoGi Nationals (2018 Master 1)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2016 Master 1)
  • 1st Place IBJJF San Diego Open (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2013/2014/2016)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF World NoGi Championship (2013)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2013)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship (2015)
  • 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian NoGi Nationals (2015)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World NoGi Championship (2011/2015)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF American Nationals Championship (2010**)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World NoGi Championship (2008 brown)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2008 brown)

Favorite Position/Technique: Half-Guard

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82,30 kg / 181.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Checkmat

Marcelo Mafra Biography

Marcelo Mafra was born in 1985 in the city of Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil.

It was in Manaus that Marcelo was introduced to martial arts, namely judo, at the age of 8, and it was with the Japanese art of throwing that Mafra discovered his interest for competition, a love he carried with him when he joined jiu-jitsu.

Mafra conquered a few junior judo tournaments but eventually moved to the São Paulo district of Itaquera, which forced him to interrupt his training. As a 12-year-old, he joined a jiu-jitsu class with the well known Cohab team of “Master Dan” Olegário, a coach who produced several high-level grapplers such as Serginho Moraes, Dimitrius Souza, Guilherme Augusto to name a few.

At first, Mafra used jiu-jitsu as a past time activity, that changed when he turned 18, a time when Marcelo started taking his focus to a professional level. He was a blue belt at the time. This mindset would lead Lapela to Fernando Tererê as a purple belt, as did many of Olegário’s students, who had a very close relationship with the TT team (Tererê/Telles).

Under the guidance of Tererê, Lapela met an array of future BJJ legends. Names such as Cobrinha, Lucas Lepri, André Galvão and many more, all training under one roof, and it was Fernando who graded Lapela to brown belt.

After Fernando Tererê ran into a few personal problems and abandoned the sport (2004), Marcelo trained with a few different coaches under the Brasa Clube de Jiu-Jitsu academy banner. One of those was Demian Maia, someone who helped Mafra tremendously as a brown belt, providing the opportunity for Lapela to move to the United States in 2007.

In 2008 Mafra was promoted to black belt by Demian Maia. Also by the end of that same year that Lapela joined the Checkmat Academy, training extensively with another competitor who had recently arrived in the country, Lucas Leite as well as João Assis, Robert Drysdale, André Galvão and more.

By 2013 Marcelo Mafra opened his own academy in California, a gym that would expand into 3 in the following years, with extensive affiliated academies.

Marcelo Mafra Grappling Record

47 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    18 (38%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    5 (11%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    18 (38%)
  • BY DECISION
    6 (13%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

18 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
RNC
28
5
#86e620
Straight ankle lock
11
2
#5AD3D1
Kneebar
6
1
#d1212a
Toe hold
6
1
#fad11b
Outside heel hook
6
1
#f58822
Choke from back
6
1
#224aba
Violin armlock
6
1
#ff9124
Submission
6
1
#bf1f6c
Straight anke lock
6
1
#22c9a5
Calf slicer
6
1
#fad223
Ankle lock
6
1
#03861f
Guillotine
6
1
#039a1f
Footlock
6
1
18
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
27 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    5 (19%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    5 (19%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    7 (26%)
  • BY DECISION
    7 (26%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    2 (7%)
  • BY DQ
    1 (4%)

7 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Choke from back
29
2
#86e620
Triangle
29
2
#5AD3D1
Ezekiel
14
1
#d1212a
Toe hold
14
1
#fad11b
Armbar
14
1
7
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Marcelo Mafra Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
2420Daniel MoraesDaniel MoraesLReferee DecisionNoGi Worlds79KG4F2009
2553Kayron GracieKayron GracieLN/APan American82KG4F2010
3630Victor EstimaVictor EstimaLEzekielPan American82KG4F2012
3895James PuopoloJames PuopoloLReferee DecisionWorld Champ.ABSR22012
4190Bill CooperBill CooperLToe holdGQ UFC ExpoABSF2012
4235Marcus AntelanteMarcus AntelanteLDQNoGi Worlds82KG4F2012
5106JT TorresJT TorresLPts: 2x0NoGi Worlds73KGF2013
5369Lucas rochaLucas rochaLReferee DecisionPan American82KGR12014
5801Victor EstimaVictor EstimaLAdvWorld Champ.82KGRDS2014
6287Vitor OliveiraVitor OliveiraLChoke from backLong Beach Pro82KGF2014
6874Tim SpriggsTim SpriggsLChoke from backPan American94KG4F2015
7465Vitor OliveiraVitor OliveiraLReferee DecisionWorld Champ.82KG4F2015
8185Otavio SousaOtavio SousaLPts: 2x2, AdvNoGi Pan Ams82KGF2015
8317Felipe CesarFelipe CesarLArmbarBrasileiro NoGi79KGF2015
8436Jonathan SatavaJonathan SatavaLPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi Worlds79KGSF2015
9033Diego HerzogLTriangleSan Jose OpenABSSF2016
11277Edwin NajmiEdwin NajmiLReferee Decision5 Super League77KGSF2016
12862Diego RamalhoDiego RamalhoLPts: 0x0, AdvLas Vegas Open82KGSF2017
13117Roberto SatoshiRoberto SatoshiLTriangleWorld Champ.76KG8F2017
13667Rodrigo CaporalRodrigo CaporalLReferee DecisionACBJJ 775KG4F2017
13903Garry TononGarry TononLPts: 0x0, PenADCC77KG4F2017
14967Luan CarvalhoLuan CarvalhoLPointsACB 1075KGSPF2018
17303Michael TrassoMichael TrassoLPts: 0x0, AdvLV NG Open79KG4F2018
18011Gilbert BurnsGilbert BurnsLPointsBlack Belt CBD83KGSF2018
19755Servio TulioServio TulioLPenADCC SP Trials77KGR22019
20400Rolando SamsonRolando SamsonLPointsDallas SPO82KGSF2019
21385Augusto MendesAugusto MendesLReferee DecisionF2W 12276KGSPF2019
2416Mike FowlerMike FowlerWRNCNoGi Worlds79KG8F2009
2547N/AWPointsPan American82KGR12010
2777Ryan BeauregardRyan BeauregardWStraight ankle lockUFC ExpoN/AN/A2010
2778Anthony CincottaWRNCUFC ExpoN/AN/A2010
2794Nathan MurphyWRNCGrapplers QuestN/AN/A2011
2795Will WeedWOutside heel hookGrapplers QuestN/AN/A2011
3356Clark GracieClark GracieWPts: 2x0No Gi Worlds82KG4F2011
3617Marcos SouzaMarcos SouzaWPts: 2x0Pan American82KGR12012
3623Gabriel GoulartGabriel GoulartWAdvPan American82KGR22012
3883Gabriel RochaWPointsWorld Champ.ABSR12012
4029Tim BruceWChoke from backWorld Champ.82KGR12012
4189Leonard KimWViolin armlockGQ UFC ExpoABSSF2012
4232Matt DarcieWSubmissionNoGi Worlds82KGR12012
4332Javier TorresWStraight anke lockGrapplers QuestN/ASPF2013
5105AJ AgazarmAJ AgazarmWReferee DecisionNoGi Worlds73KGSF2013
6037Nic RubenNic RubenWRNCNoGi Worlds79KG4F2014
6039Ben HendersonWPts: 3x0NoGi Worlds79KGSF2014
6284Magid HageWAdvLong Beach Pro82KG4F2014
6286Rodrigo FreitasRodrigo FreitasWPts: 4x2Long Beach Pro82KGSF2014
6871Jurandir ConceicaoJurandir ConceicaoWPointsPan American94KGR22015
7462Magid HageWPointsWorld Champ.82KG8F2015
8133Vinicius AgudoWStraight ankle lockDallas NoGi Open79KGSF2015
8135Michael LieraMichael LieraWPts: 2x2, AdvDallas NoGi Open79KGF2015
8183Jonathan SatavaJonathan SatavaWPts: 4x0NoGi Pan Ams82KGSF2015
8312Nicolau EduardoWCalf slicerBrasileiro NoGi79KG4F2015
8315Gabriel TimbóWPointsBrasileiro NoGi79KGSF2015
8431Nic RubenNic RubenWPts: 4x0NoGi Worlds79KG4F2015
9026Gabriel ProcópioWPointsSan Jose Open82KGSF2016
9036Samir ChantreSamir ChantreWAnkle lockSJose NoGi Open82KGF2016
9873Gabriel MarangoniGabriel MarangoniWPts: 6x2Las Vegas Open76KGF2016
10915Marcel GoncalvesMarcel GoncalvesWReferee DecisionNoGi Worlds79KG4F2016
10920Marcos TinocoMarcos TinocoWPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi Worlds79KGSF2016
10921Jonathan SatavaJonathan SatavaWGuillotineNoGi Worlds79KGF2016
11276Mansher KheraMansher KheraWReferee Decision5 Super League77KG4F2016
11742Ruan OliveiraRuan OliveiraWFootlockADCC RJ77KGR12017
11751Rodrigo ConceicaoRodrigo ConceicaoWRNCADCC RJ77KG4F2017
11755Lucas AraujoWKneebarADCC RJ77KGSF2017
11756Gabriel RolloGabriel RolloWReferee DecisionADCC RJ77KGF2017
12319Jeffrey CummingsWPointsChicago Sp. Open76KGSF2017
12320Joao AlvesWPointsChicago Sp. Open76KGF2017
13104John RickelWToe holdWorld Champ.76KGR12017
13439Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWReferee DecisionFIVE Super LeagueABSSPF2017
13899Oliver TazaOliver TazaWPts: 2x0ADCC77KGE12017
15312Rodrigo CaporalRodrigo CaporalWPointsACBJJ 1175KGSPF2018
16331Bruno MachadoWPointsSan Diego Open82KGSF2018
16332Rolando SamsonRolando SamsonWAdvSan Diego Open82KGF2018
27233Chris HargettWReferee DecisionF2W 18083KGSPF2021

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