| Cezar Ferreira | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cezar Jesus Ferreira (1985-02-15)February 15, 1985 (age 40) Catanduva,São Paulo, Brazil[1] |
| Other names | Mutante |
| Residence | Boca Raton, Florida, United States |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] |
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg; 15.4 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight Light Heavyweight Middleweight Welterweight |
| Reach | 78 in (198 cm)[3] |
| Fighting out of | Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Team | Blackzilians (2013–2016)[4] Extreme Couture MMA Masters (2016–present)[5] |
| Teacher | Vitor Belfort |
| Rank | Black belt inBrazilian jiu-jitsu[6] Master inCapoeira[6] |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Losses | 11 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Cezar Jesus Ferreira (born February 15, 1985), better known in his home countryBrazil asCezar Mutante, is amixed martial artist currently competing in thelight heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, he has competed for theUltimate Fighting Championship andProfessional Fighters League. He was also the inaugural winner ofGlobo'sThe Ultimate Fighter: Brazil
Ferreira was born inCatanduva, but grew up inIbitinga, São Paulo.[1] He began trainingcapoeira at the age of six.[1] Cezar grew upwrestling and practicingBrazilian jiu-jitsu throughout his childhood and adolescence. Viewing tapes ofUFC Hall of FamerRoyce Gracie fighting caused his interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA to grow.[7] However, after having a rough home life and having to leave at seventeen years old, Mutante foundVitor Belfort who took him in as his own son, helping to raise him and take care of him. Belfort began training Ferreira in MMA at his gym.[8]
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On April 29, 2007, Ferreira made his professional debut in a one-night middleweight tournament for Xtreme Fighting Championships in Brazil. He fought Andre Severo, winning via TKO at 1:29 of round one. In the next round of the tournament, Ferreira suffered his first defeat, losing toAntônio Braga Neto via decision. Ferreira took a long leave of absences from fighting after his wife got pregnant.
Three years after his debut, Ferreira returned to active competition, fighting on the Bitetti Combat 6 card against Felipe Arinelli. Ferreira won the fight after choking Arinelli unconscious with a D'arce choke in the second round. Only a few months later Ferreira, again, fought for Bitetti Combat, fighting on their seventh event. He defeated Cassiano Ricardo Castanho de Freitas via TKO (doctor stoppage) in the second round.
Ferreira then traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, United States to train with Vitor atXtreme Couture.[7] He was placed on the Ring of Fire 40 card inBroomfield, Colorado, on April 16, 2011. Ferreira defeated Chaun Sims viaknockout only 17 seconds into round one. Ferreira took his second professional defeat at Superior Cage Combat 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 20, 2011, losing toElvis Mutapčić via one-punchknockout.
In March 2012, it was revealed that Mutante was selected to be a participant onThe Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Mutante defeated Gustavo Sampaio by submission with a guillotine choke in the second round to move into theUltimate Fighter house, and become an official cast member.
Mutante was selected as the first pick (second overall) by his mentor and real-life coachVitor Belfort to be a part of Team Vitor. In the secondMiddleweight fight of the season, Mutante was selected to fightLeonardo Mafra. Mutante won via submission (guillotine choke) in the second round.[9] He was then scheduled to faceThiago Perpetuo for a spot in the final againstDaniel Sarafian. He defeated Perpetuo by knockout (head kick) and was expected to faceSérgio Moraes, who replaced for Sarafian due to an injury.
Mutante was expected to make his UFC debut on June 23, 2012, atUFC 147 againstDaniel Sarafian to determine the winner ofThe Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. However, Sarafian injured himself and was forced out of the bout and replaced bySérgio Moraes.[10] Ferreira won the fight via unanimous decision.
Ferreira was expected to faceC. B. Dollaway on May 18, 2013, atUFC on FX 8.[11] However, Dollaway was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced byChris Camozzi.[12] Then on April 7, Ferreira pulled out of the fight as well, citing an injury and was replaced byRafael Natal.[13]
Ferreira was expected to faceClint Hester on August 3, 2013, atUFC 163.[14] However, Hester was forced out of the bout and Ferreira instead faced promotional newcomerThiago Santos.[15] He won the fight via submission in the first round.
Ferreira facedDaniel Sarafian on November 9, 2013, atUFC Fight Night 32.[16] He won the fight via split decision (28–29, 30–27, and 30–28).
The bout withC. B. Dollaway eventually took place on March 23, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 38.[17] Ferreira lost via TKO in the first round.
Ferreira facedAndrew Craig on June 28, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 44.[18] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Ferreira facedSam Alvey on February 22, 2015, atUFC Fight Night 61.[19] Alvey won the fight via knockout in the first round.[20]
Ferreira facedJorge Masvidal in a welterweight bout on July 12, 2015, atThe Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale.[21] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[22]
Ferreira was expected to faceCaio Magalhães on April 16, 2016, atUFC on Fox 19.[23] However, Magalhães pulled out of the fight in the week leading up to the event citing an ankle injury and was replaced byOluwale Bamgbose.[24] Ferreira won the fight via unanimous decision.[25]
Ferreira next facedAnthony Smith on July 8, 2016, atThe Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale.[26] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[27]
Ferreira facedJack Hermansson on November 19, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 100.[28] He won the fight via submission in the second round and was awarded aPerformance of the Night bonus.[29][30]
Ferreira facedElias Theodorou on February 19, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 105.[31] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[32]
Ferreira facedNate Marquardt on November 11, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 120.[33] He won the fight via split decision.[34]
Ferreira facedKarl Roberson on May 12, 2018, atUFC 224.[35] He won the fight via technical submission in the first round.[36]
Ferreira was expected to faceTom Breese on November 17, 2018, atUFC Fight Night 140.[37] However, it was reported on November 9, 2018, that Breese pulled out of the event due to injury, and he was replaced by Ian Heinisch.[38] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[39]
The pairing with Breese was rescheduled and was expected to take place on March 16, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 147.[40] However, on February 1, 2019, Ferreira withdrew from the fight on February 1, citing a knee injury.[41]
Ferreira facedMarvin Vettori on July 13, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 155.[42] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[43]
In March 2020, Ferreira signed withProfessional Fighters League.[44]
Ferreira faced Nick Roehrick on April 29, 2021, atPFL 2 as the start of the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight tournament.[45] He won the fight via knockout 37 seconds into the first round.[46]
Ferreira facedChris Camozzi atPFL 5 on June 17, 2021.[47] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[48]
Ferreira faced Marthin Hamlet in the Semifinals off the Light Heavyweight tournament on August 27, 2021, atPFL 9.[49] Off his very first kick, Ferreira injured his hamstring, which sent him down to the canvas and the fight was called.[50]
Ferreira, replacing Patrick Brady, facedDenis Goltsov on April 14, 2023 atPFL 3.[51] He lost the bout in the first round, getting knocked out by ground and pound.[52] In early May, it was announced that Ferreira had failed a commission drug test and was pulled from the season.[53] Ferreira was later suspended 9 months and fined for testing positive forClomiphene andandrostanolone[54]
| 25 matches | 14 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 6 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 14–11 | Denis Goltsov | KO (punches) | PFL 3 (2023) | April 14, 2023 | 1 | 2:07 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 14–10 | Marthin Hamlet | TKO (leg injury) | PFL 9 (2021) | August 27, 2021 | 1 | 0:13 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Loss | 14–9 | Chris Camozzi | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 5 (2021) | June 17, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 14–8 | Nick Roehrick | KO (punches) | PFL 2 (2021) | April 29, 2021 | 1 | 0:37 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 13–8 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd | July 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Loss | 13–7 | Ian Heinisch | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | November 17, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 13–6 | Karl Roberson | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 224 | May 12, 2018 | 1 | 4:45 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–6 | Nate Marquardt | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Loss | 11–6 | Elias Theodorou | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne | February 19, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | |
| Win | 11–5 | Jack Hermansson | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Nogueira 2 | November 19, 2016 | 2 | 2:11 | São Paulo, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 10–5 | Anthony Smith | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | July 8, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–5 | Oluwale Bamgbose | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans | April 16, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 8–5 | Jorge Masvidal | KO (elbow and punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale | July 12, 2015 | 1 | 4:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 8–4 | Sam Alvey | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir | February 22, 2015 | 1 | 3:34 | Porto Alegre, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–3 | Andrew Craig | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens | June 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 7–3 | C. B. Dollaway | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 | March 23, 2014 | 1 | 0:39 | Natal, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–2 | Daniel Sarafian | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 2 | November 9, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Goiânia, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–2 | Thiago Santos | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 163 | August 3, 2013 | 1 | 0:47 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–2 | Sérgio Moraes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 147 | June 23, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | WonThe Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Middleweight Tournament. |
| Loss | 4–2 | Elvis Mutapčić | KO (punch) | Superior Cage Combat 2 | August 20, 2011 | 1 | 0:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Chaun Sims | KO (punch) | Ring of Fire 40 | April 16, 2011 | 1 | 0:17 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Cassiano de Freitas | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Bitetti Combat 7 | May 28, 2010 | 2 | 3:37 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–1 | Felipe Arinelli | Technical Submission (D'Arce choke) | Bitetti Combat 6 | February 25, 2010 | 2 | 0:55 | Brasília, Brazil | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Antônio Braga Neto | Decision (unanimous) | XFC Brazil 1 | April 29, 2007 | 1 | 10:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | André Severo | TKO (punches) | XFC Brazil 1 | April 29, 2007 | 1 | 1:29 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Middleweight debut. |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3–0 | Thiago Perpétuo | KO (head kick) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil | 1 | 1:26 | Brazil | Fought at 185. | |
| Win | 2–0 | Leonardo Mafra | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil | 2 | 1:05 | Brazil | Fought at 185. | |
| Win | 1–0 | Gustavo Sampaio | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil | 1 | 1:36 | Brazil | Fought at 185. |