Zuluzinho
{{short description|Brazilian mixed martial artist}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Zuluzinho
| other_names =
| image =
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Wágner da Conceição Martins
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|5|19}}
| birth_place = São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| residence =
| height = 6 ft 4 in
| weight_lb = 390
| weight_class = Super Heavyweight
| reach =
| style = Vale Tudo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
| stance =
| fighting_out_of =
| team = B-Tough
| rank = Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
| years_active = 2004–2010, 2018–present (MMA)
| mma_kowin = 12
| mma_subwin = 1
| mma_decwin = 1
| mma_koloss = 8
| mma_subloss = 2
| mma_decloss = 1
| mma_draw =
| mma_nc = 1
| url =
| sherdog = 13398
| footnotes =
| updated =
}}
Wágner da Conceição Martins (born May 19, 1978), better known as Zuluzinho ({{IPA|pt|zuluˈziɲu}}), is a Brazilian vale tudo fighter and mixed martial artist. He is the son of Vale Tudo legend Casemiro Nascimento Martins ("Rei Zulu").{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Guilherme|title=Zuluzinho 'shocked' by standup rule that led to brutal knockout, still plans to fight in late-September|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/6/23338170/zuluzinho-shocked-standup-rule-brutal-ko-belarus-mma|date=6 September 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.fcfighter.com/zulu-051229.htm |title="I Can Beat the Champion Fedor," Says Zuluzinho; Brazilian Behemoth Prepares for Fight of His Life |last=Alonso |first=Marcelo |website=Full Contact Fighter |access-date=March 8, 2015}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Wagner-da-Conceicao-Martins-13398|title=AGNER DA CONCEICAO MARTINS : "ZULUZINHO"|work=Sherdog.com|access-date=2016-03-30}} In the December 2005 issue of Full-Contact Fighter, Marcelo Alonso wrote that Zuluzinho started his MMA career in 2000 in the town of Teresina, near the city of Sao Luis, Brazil.
Career highlights
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.{{cite web|url=http://onthemat.com/sakuraba-still-dynamite/|title=Sakuraba Still Dynamite!!|work=Onthemat|author=Monty DiPietro|date=January 1, 2008|access-date=November 15, 2019}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://portaldovaletudo.uol.com.br/english/?channel%3D2%26id%3D29 |title=Zuluzinho uses his 440 pounds to beat Angelo|access-date=March 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706155212/http://portaldovaletudo.uol.com.br/english/?channel=2&id=29 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 }}
On Nov. 30, 2010, Zuluzinho lost in his second bout against Geronimo dos Santos via first-round KO at Mr. Cage 4.
On June 2, 2018, Zuluzinho lost to Edvaldo de Oliveira via TKO at Imortal FC 9.
On February 23, 2021, Zuluzinho faced undefeated Russian Yusup Shuaev at AMC Fight Nights: Sochi. Despite dropping his opponent at the very end of a round and celebrating prematurely his win, Zuluzinho would go on to lose the bout via majority decision.{{cite web |last1=Newswire |first1=MMA Fighting |title=Video: Zuluzinho celebrates prematurely after early knockdown, ends up losing decision |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/23/22297410/video-zuluzinho-drops-opponent-at-the-end-of-round-and-thinks-he-won-goes-on-to-lose |website=MMA Fighting |access-date=23 February 2021 |language=en |date=23 February 2021}}
Mixed martial arts record
{{MMArecordbox
| draws=
| nc= 1
| ko-wins= 12
| ko-losses= 9
| sub-wins= 1
| sub-losses= 2
| dec-wins= 1
| dec-losses= 1
| dq-wins=
| dq-losses=
| other-wins=
| other-losses=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|{{nowrap|14–12 (1)}}
|Serigne Ousmane Dia
|TKO (punches)
|MMA Attack 4: #Comback
|{{dts|2022|September|24}}
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:42
|Będzin, Poland
|
|-
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|14–11 (1)
|Petr Romankevich
|KO (knee)
|{{dts|2022|September|3}}
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:53
|Minsk, Belarus
|
|-
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|14–10 (1)
|Yusup Shuaev
|Decision (majority)
|{{dts|2021|February|23}}
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Sochi, Russia
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 14–9 (1)
| Aleksandar Aleksic
| TKO (punches)
| Megdan Fighting 6
| {{dts|2019|December|9}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:18
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 13–9 (1)
| Marko Djordevic
| TKO (punches)
| Megdan Fighting 5
| {{dts|2019|June|27}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:53
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 12–9 (1)
| Aleksandar Aleksic
| TKO (punches)
| Megdan Fighting 4
| {{dts|2019|March|15}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:23
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 11–9 (1)
| Edvaldo de Oliveira
| TKO (retirement)
| Imortal FC 9
| {{dts|2018|June|2}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 5:00
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 11–8 (1)
| Geronimo dos Santos
| KO (punches)
| Mr. Cage 4
| {{dts|2010|November|30}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 11–7 (1)
| Douglas Humberto
| Decision (split)
| Ilha Combat 3: Confrontation of Giants
| {{dts|2010|April|9}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 10–7 (1)
| Angelo Araujo
| TKO (retirement)
| Ilha Combat 2: Araujo vs. Zuluzinho
| {{dts|2009|December|19}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 5:00
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 9–7 (1)
| Geronimo dos Santos
| KO (punch)
| Fusion Combat
| {{dts|2008|December|14}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 0:22
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 9–6 (1)
| Guilherme dos Anjos
| TKO (submission to punches)
| Desafio de Gigantes 10
| {{dts|2008|July|6}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:52
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 9–5 (1)
| Ibragim Magomedov
| TKO (punches)
| fightFORCE: Russia vs. The World
| {{dts|2008|April|19}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 9–4 (1)
| TKO (corner stoppage)
| {{dts|2007|December|31}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 2:13
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 8–4 (1)
| Vladimir Kuchenko
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Bodog Fight: USA vs. Russia
| {{dts|2007|November|30}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:14
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 7–4 (1)
| Guilherme dos Anjos
| TKO (retirement)
| Desafio de Gigantes 8
| {{dts|2007|11|1}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 3:50
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 7–3 (1)
| Submission (americana)
| PRIDE 34
| {{dts|2007|April|8}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:35
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 7–2 (1)
| Submission (armbar)
| Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute
| {{dts|2006|May|5}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:17
| {{small|2006 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round.}}
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 7–1 (1)
| TKO (submission to punches)
| {{dts|2005|December|31}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:26
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 7–0 (1)
| TKO (knees)
| {{dts|2005|October|23}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:31
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 6–0 (1)
| Rafal Dabrowski
| KO (punch)
| {{dts|2005|July|16}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 2:04
|
|-
| {{draw}}NC
| align=center| 5–0 (1)
| Kleber Ranieri Jansen
| NC (both fighters fell from ring)
| Desafio de Gigantes 4
| {{dts|2005|May|20}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 5–0
| Fabio Black
| KO (strikes)
| World Combat 3
| {{dts|2005|May|13}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:20
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 4–0
| Junior Pitbull
| TKO (punches)
| Desafio de Gigantes 2
| {{dts|2004|March|13}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:37
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 3–0
| James Adler
| KO (punches)
| Main Event Vale Tudo
| 2004
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
| Itapeua, Brazil
| {{small|Vale Tudo.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 2–0
| James Adler
| KO (punches)
| Main Event Vale Tudo
| 2004
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
| Itapeua, Brazil
| {{small|Vale Tudo.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 1–0
| Carlos Andino
| KO (punches)
| Main Event Vale Tudo
| November 4, 2003
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
| Itapeua, Brazil
| {{small|Vale Tudo.}}
{{end}}