Zuluzinho

Zuluzinho
Born Wágner da Conceição Martins
(1978-05-19) May 19, 1978
São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Nationality Brazilian
Height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight 408 lb (185 kg; 29 st 2 lb)
Division Super Heavyweight
Style Vale Tudo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Team B-Tough
Rank purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active 2004 - 2010 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total 20
Wins 11
By knockout 9
By submission 1
By decision 1
Losses 8
By knockout 4
By submission 4
No contests 1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Wágner da Conceição Martins (born May 19, 1978), better known as Zuluzinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [zuluˈziɲu]), is a Brazilian vale tudo fighter and mixed martial artist. He is the son of Vale Tudo legend Rei Zulu. Wagner was raised by his grandmother and works as a security guard in a number of reggae clubs in northern Brazil. Following in his father's footsteps, he trained in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and vale tudo. Zuluzinho holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under black belt Ricardo "Ricardinho Bulldog" Candido Gomes, who also serves as his MMA coach.[1]

Record controversy

Zuluzinho reportedly compiled an undefeated Vale Tudo record of 38-0 (38 knockouts) in Brazil prior to his fight at Cage Warriors Strike Force 2 in England. However, all but five of those fights are unconfirmed.[2] In the December 2005 issue of Full-Contact Fighter, Marcelo Alfonso wrote that Zuluzinho started his MMA career in 2000 in the town of Teresina, near the city of Sao Luis, Brazil.[1]

Video shows that Zuluzinho knocked out James Adler twice in Brazil,[3] but these fights do not appear on his official record.

Career highlights

Prior to fighting at Cage Warriors Strike Force 2 in England, Zuluzinho knocked out American James Adler in one round in an unsanctioned Vale Tudo match in Brazil. A video of the fight is available on the internet.

Zuluzinho was beaten after only 26 seconds of the first round in PRIDE Fighting Championships Shockwave 2005 event at the hands of world champion Fedor Emelianenko.

In the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix on May 5, 2006, he was defeated via armbar in the first round by Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.

His next fight was a loss against Eric Esch at PRIDE 34 by Submission (kimura).

On December 31, 2007, Zuluzinho scored the biggest win of his career by stopping Ikuhisa "The Punk" Minowa in 3 rounds at K-1 in Japan.

He saw his winning streak snapped when he lost by 1st-round TKO to Ibragim Magomedov at FightForce - Russia vs. The World on April 19, 2008.

On July 7, 2008, Zuluzinho was knocked out by fellow super heavyweight Guigao Guigao at DDG-Desafio de Gigantes 10. In the semi-final match, Zuluzinho's 63-year-old father, Rei Zulu, lost by a disqualification to Santos Samurai.

Zulu faced rising star Geronimo "Mondragon" dos Santos on December 14, 2008. In this bout he landed a flurry of strikes early in the first round but was unable to finish dos Santos, and subsequently was knocked out in round 2.

One year later he returned to action with a win against Brazilian Top Team veteran Angelo Araujo.[4]

In his most recent fight on Nov. 30, 2010, Zuluzinho lost in his second bout against Geronimo dos Santos via first-round KO at Mr. Cage 4.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–8 (1) Geronimo dos Santos KO (punches) Mr. Cage 4 November 30, 2010 1 N/A Manaus, Brazil
Win 11–7 (1) Douglas Humberto Decision (split) Ilha Combat 3: Confrontation of Giants April 9, 2010 3 5:00 Sao Luis, Brazil
Win 10–7 (1) Angelo Araujo TKO (retirement) Ilha Combat 2: Araujo vs. Zuluzinho December 19, 2009 2 5:00 Sao Luis, Brazil
Loss 9–7 (1) Geronimo dos Santos KO (punch) Fusion Combat December 14, 2008 2 0:22 Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil
Loss 9–6 (1) Guilherme dos Anjos Submission (punches) Desafio de Gigantes 10 July 6, 2008 1 3:52 Macapa, Brazil
Loss 9–5 (1) Ibragim Magomedov TKO (punches) fightFORCE: Russia vs. The World April 19, 2008 1 N/A St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 9–4 (1) Ikuhisa Minowa TKO (corner stoppage) K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! December 31, 2007 3 2:13 Osaka, Japan
Win 8–4 (1) Vladimir Kuchenko Submission (rear-naked choke) Bodog Fight: USA vs. Russia November 30, 2007 1 2:14 Moscow, Russia
Loss 7–4 (1) Guilherme dos Anjos TKO (retirement) Desafio de Gigantes 8 November 1, 2007 2 3:50 Macapa, Brazil
Loss 7–3 (1) Eric Esch Submission (americana) PRIDE 34 April 8, 2007 1 2:35 Saitama, Japan
Loss 7–2 (1) Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Submission (armbar) Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute May 5, 2006 1 2:17 Osaka, Japan 2006 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
Loss 7–1 (1) Fedor Emelianenko Submission (punches) Pride FC: Shockwave 2005 December 31, 2005 1 0:26 Saitama, Japan
Win 7–0 (1) Henry Miller TKO (knees) Pride 30: Fully Loaded October 23, 2005 1 1:31 Saitama, Japan
Win 6–0 (1) Rafal Dabrowski KO (punch) CWFC: Strike Force 2 July 16, 2005 2 2:04 Coventry, England
NC 5–0 (1) Kleber Ranieri Jansen NC (both fighters fell from ring) Desafio de Gigantes 4 May 20, 2005 1 N/A Macapa, Brazil
Win 5–0 Fabio Black KO (strikes) World Combat 3 May 13, 2005 1 1:20 Sao Luis, Brazil
Win 4–0 Junior Pitbull TKO (punches) Desafio de Gigantes 2 March 13, 2004 1 0:37 Macapa, Brazil
Win 3–0 James Adler KO (punches) Main Event Vale Tudo 2004 1 N/A Itapeua, Brazil Vale Tudo
Win 2–0 James Adler KO (punches) Main Event Vale Tudo 2004 1 N/A Itapeua, Brazil Vale Tudo
Win 1–0 Carlos Andino KO (punches) Main Event Vale Tudo November 4, 2003 1 N/A Itapeua, Brazil Vale Tudo

References

  1. 1 2 Alonso, Marcelo. ""I Can Beat the Champion Fedor," Says Zuluzinho; Brazilian Behemoth Prepares for Fight of His Life". Full Contact Fighter. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  2. "AGNER DA CONCEICAO MARTINS : "ZULUZINHO"". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  3. "Zuluzinho uses his 440 pounds to beat Angelo". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
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