Zuluzinho

Brazilian
fighting from=Brazil
hometown=São Luís, Maranhao, Brazil
fightstyle=
wins=17
losses=4
draws=0
nocontest=
ko=16
submissions=1|

Zuluzinho, real name Wagner da Conceição Martins, is a Brazilian vale tudo and mixed martial arts fighter. His father was the legendary vale tudo fighter Rei Zulu, who boasted of a 140-0 match record prior to his defeat at the hands of Rickson Gracie in a grappling match in 1980. 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 foot-steps, young Zuluzinho trained in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and vale tudo. Zuluzinho holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under black belt Cássio Façanha. He trained for over 7 years with Vale Tudo fighter Ricardinho "Bulldog".

Record Controversy

Zuluzinho reportedly compiled an undefeated Vale Tudo record of 38-0 (38 knockouts) in Brazil, South America, prior to his fight at Cage Warriors Strike Force 2 in England. 25 fights from this record are unconfirmed. 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. [http://www.fcfighter.com/zulu-051229.htm]

Career highlights

Zuluzinho's first major victory was a knockout over Brazilian Vale Tudo fighter Victoria de Guigui at "Desafio de Gigantes 8" in Brazil, South America.

Prior to fighting at Cage Warriors Strike Force 2 in England, Zuluzinhho knocked out American wrestler James Adler in one round in a Vale Tudo match in Brazil. A video of the fight is available on the internet. In 1990, Adler scored two knockout victories over Rei Zulu, father of Zuluzinho.

The 6 feet and 7 inch, 407 pound (185 kg) Zuluzinho TKO'ed former professional sumo wrestler Henry Miller in one round via knees.

Zuluzihno 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 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

His next fight was a loss against Eric "Butterbean" 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.

tats

*Height: 6 feet 7inches
*Weight: 375-407lbs.
*Ranking: Purple Belt in BJJ
*Confirmed MMA Record: 17-4, 16 knockouts, 1 submission
*Unconfirmed Vale Tudo Record: 25-0, 25 knockouts, 23 in the first round
*Total record (confirmed and unconfirmed): 42-4, 41 knockouts, 1 submission, 36 knockouts in the first round
*Trainers: Rei Zulu, Lula, Ricardinho "Bulldog"

MMA record

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Portion of record that is unconfirmed:

# 2001:08/25-Knockedout Vitor Macedo 1 rd in Salvador, Brazil
# 2001:08/25-Knockedout Manolo Oteras 1 rd in Salvador, Brazil
# 2001:08/25-Knockedout Arturo Rivas 1 rd in Salvador, Brazil
# 2002:03/31-Knockedout Nelson Cabrerra 1 rd in Salvador, Brazil
# 2002:05/01-Knockedout Jucimar Santos 1 rd in Araraquara, Brazil
# 2002:05/08-Knockedout Jose Ivaldo 1 rd in São Paulo, Brazil
# 2002:05/21-Knockedout Enrique Galvao 1 rd in Bauru, Brazil
# 2002:05/31-Knockedout Pedro Da Costa 1 rd in Minas Gerais,Brazil
# 2003:03/20-Knockedout Franco Oliveria 1 rd in Salvador, Brazil
# 2003:03/27-Knockedout Dacio Hipolito 1 rd in Porto Alegre,Brazil
# 2003:04/03-Knockedout Edson Rodrigues 1 rd in Ararquara, Brazil
# 2003:04/10-Knockedout Clarico Nascimento 1 rd in Itapeua, Brazil
# 2003:04/15-Knockedout Regin Tonacio 1 rd in Suzano, Brazil
# 2003:04/22-Knockedout Jucimar Santos 1 rd in Cajamar, Brazil
# 2003:04/29-Knockedout Mario (Carlo) Silva 1 rd in Londrina, Brazil
# 2003:05/14-Knockedout Joao (Otas) Cotero 1 rd in Maranhao, Brazil
# 2003:06/03-Knockedout Jesus DosSantos 1 rd in Cuiaba, Brazil
# 2003:06/17-Knockedout Alejandro Oliveria 1 rd in Cruz Alta, Brazil
# 2003:06/25-Knockedout Regin Tonacio 1 rd in Salvador, Brazil
# 2003:08/29-Knockedout Julio Vizarra 2 rd in Cuiaba, Brazil
# 2003:09/06-Knockedout Jucimar Santos 1 rd in Cuiaba, Brazil
# 2003:10/03-Knockedout Rogerio Gloria 1 rd in Aracaju, Brazil
# 2003:10/03-Knockedout Eduardo Chacon 1 rd in Aracaju, Brazil
# 2003:12/30-Knockedout Enrique Borges 2 rd in Maranhao, Brazil
# 2004:11/01-Knockedout Salvador Aguayo 1 rd in Cajamar, Brazil

External links

* [http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=13398 Professional MMA record]