Rei Zulu
Encyclopedia
Casimiro de Nascimento Martins, better known as Rei Zulu ("King Zulu"), is a mixed martial arts
(MMA) fighter from Brazil
. Zulu was born of poverty, and decided to seek a career as a professional Vale Tudo
fighter. Zulu had his first fight at age 18 in 1963.
Zulu made a name for himself by challenging local tough guys from Brazil, as well as tourists from around the world. In 1980, after 17 years of competition, reportedly winning over 150 consecutive unsanctioned fights, Zulu issued a challenge to the Gracie Family to prove who was the best Vale Tudo fighter in the nation.
Undefeated Rickson Gracie
met Zulu in a televised match which made headlines in Brazil. Zulu lost his undefeated streak when Gracie choked him out. In a rematch a few years later, Zulu again lost by choke. On November 30, 1984, Rei Zulu scored his biggest victory, an upset over Full Contact Kickboxing competitor Sergio Batarelli at JJ vs MA-Jiu-Jitsu vs Martial Arts.
In 2007, at 62, Zulu had three fights in Brazil and won all of them by knockout. He was also an adviser to his son Zuluzinho
. The younger Zulu claimed to hold a 39-0 (39 knockout) record before making his PRIDE Fighting Championships debut.
In a February 7, 2008 interview on Sherdog.com, Zulu said he will continue to fight on. He hopes to fight American fighters Skip Hall
, 63, and former UFC World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn
, 54.
On July 6, 2008, Rei Zulu, 63, lost by disqualification in round 2 to Santos Samurai at Desafio de Gigantes 10 in Brazil. Zuluzinho
fought on the same card in the main event and was knocked out in one round by Guigao Guigao.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
(MMA) fighter from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Zulu was born of poverty, and decided to seek a career as a professional Vale Tudo
Vale tudo
Vale tudo are full-contact unarmed combat events, with a limited number of rules, that became popular in Brazil during the 20th century. Vale tudo has been considered a combat sport by some observers...
fighter. Zulu had his first fight at age 18 in 1963.
Zulu made a name for himself by challenging local tough guys from Brazil, as well as tourists from around the world. In 1980, after 17 years of competition, reportedly winning over 150 consecutive unsanctioned fights, Zulu issued a challenge to the Gracie Family to prove who was the best Vale Tudo fighter in the nation.
Undefeated Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson...
met Zulu in a televised match which made headlines in Brazil. Zulu lost his undefeated streak when Gracie choked him out. In a rematch a few years later, Zulu again lost by choke. On November 30, 1984, Rei Zulu scored his biggest victory, an upset over Full Contact Kickboxing competitor Sergio Batarelli at JJ vs MA-Jiu-Jitsu vs Martial Arts.
In 2007, at 62, Zulu had three fights in Brazil and won all of them by knockout. He was also an adviser to his son Zuluzinho
Zuluzinho
Wágner da Conceição Martins , better known as Zuluzinho , 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...
. The younger Zulu claimed to hold a 39-0 (39 knockout) record before making his PRIDE Fighting Championships debut.
In a February 7, 2008 interview on Sherdog.com, Zulu said he will continue to fight on. He hopes to fight American fighters Skip Hall
Skip Hall (MMA)
J. "Skip" Hall is a former mixed martial artist and IBM sales manager. At 57, "Skip" claimed to be the oldest pro-debuting fighter, and in 2008 at the age of 63 he gained a measure of notoriety as an unusually old combat sports athlete...
, 63, and former UFC World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn
Dan Severn
Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the...
, 54.
On July 6, 2008, Rei Zulu, 63, lost by disqualification in round 2 to Santos Samurai at Desafio de Gigantes 10 in Brazil. Zuluzinho
Zuluzinho
Wágner da Conceição Martins , better known as Zuluzinho , 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...
fought on the same card in the main event and was knocked out in one round by Guigao Guigao.
Mixed martial arts record
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2-7 |  Santos Samurai |
DQ (Punches After the Bell) | Desafio de Gigantes 10 | 2 | 5:00 | Macapa, Brazil |
||
| Win | 2-6 | Wesslan Evaristo de Oliveira |
Submission (Punches) | Zulu Combat 1 | 1 | 0:28 | Sao Luis, Brazil |
||
| Loss | 1-6 |  Enson InoueEnson Inoue Enson Inoue is a Japanese American mixed martial artist. He has a professional MMA record of 12-8-0. He is a former Shooto Heavyweight Champion. He had also previously fought in Pride Fighting Championships, the biggest mixed martial arts organization at the time... |
TKO (Elbows) | Shooto: Reconquista 2 | 1 | 0:45 |  Tokyo, Japan |
||
| Loss | 1-5 | Kunta Kinte |
Submission (Fish Hook) | BVF: Circuito de Lutas 7 | 1 | N/A | Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
||
| Loss | 1-4 | Ebenezer Fontes Braga Ebenezer Fontes Braga Ebenezer "Pitbull" Fontes Braga is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the Light Heavyweight division... |
N/A | Freestyle de Belem 1 | N/A | N/A | Belem, Brazil |
||
| Loss | 1-3 | Pedro Otavio |
Disqualification | Desafio - International Vale Tudo | 1 | 11:54 | Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
||
| Win | 1-2 | Sergio Batarelli |
Submission (Guillotine Choke) | Jiu-Jitsu vs Martial Arts | 1 | 2:24 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
||
| Loss | 0-2 | Rickson Gracie Rickson Gracie Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson... |
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Independent Event | 1 | N/A | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
||
| Loss | 0-1 | Rickson Gracie Rickson Gracie Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson... |
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Independent Event | 1 | 11:55 | Brasilia, Brazil |