Zoila Frausto
Encyclopedia
Zoila L. Gurgel is an American
professional female mixed martial artist. Her nickname comes from the popular 1990s TV series Xena: Warrior Princess
. She is the current Bellator
Women's Champion at 115 pounds.
Gurgel is currently the #5-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #2-ranked 125-pound female fighter according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.
She graduated from Madera High School in 2002 and attended Fresno City College.
She next faced Sarah Boyd on June 27, 2009 at Disturbing The Peace in Fresno, California. Gurgel won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
On July 25, 2009, Gurgel fought Leeann Jenkins at Pure Combat 9 - Home Turf. She won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
Gurgel faced Elisha Helsper at Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista
on November 6, 2009 and won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
She next faced Jessica Rakoczy
at Tachi Palace Fights 3 - Champions Collide on February 4, 2010. Gurgel won the fight by armbar submission in the first round.
Gurgel faced Miesha Tate
on March 26, 2010 at Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe
. She lost the fight by armbar submission in the second round.
On May 16, 2010, Gurgel dropped down to 125 pounds to face Michelle Ould at TWC 8 - Meltdown in Porterville, California
. She defeated Ould by verbal submission after Ould suffered an ankle injury in the second round.
at Bellator 23 on June 24. She defeated Sexton by knockout exactly two minutes into the first round.
She entered the Bellator Season Three
115-pound women's tournament at Bellator 25 and faced Jessica Penne in the opening round. Gurgel won the fight via unanimous decision.
Gurgel faced Jessica Aguilar in the second round of the Bellator tournament at Bellator 31. She won the fight via controversial split decision and went on to face Megumi Fujii
in the tournament final at Bellator 34 on October 28, 2010. Gurgel once again won via controversial split decision, handing Fujii her first professional defeat and becoming the inaugural 115-pound women's champion.
In her first fight after marriage, Gurgel faced Karina Hallinan at Bellator 35 in a non-title match on March 5, 2011 in Lemoore, California. She won the fight via unanimous decision but suffered a right hand fracture.
Gurgel agreed to rematch Jessica Aguilar
in a non-title bout at a Bellator event in late October. However, Aguilar withdrew from the planned fight while recovering from foot surgery and Gurgel was booked to face Carina Damm
at Bellator 57 on November 12, 2011. Gurgel withdrew from the bout on October 20 after suffering a torn ACL
in training and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months.
fighter Jorge Gurgel
on February 19, 2011.
| Win
| align=center| 11–1
| Karina Hallinan
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 35
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 10–1
| Megumi Fujii
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 34
|
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 9–1
| Jessica Aguilar
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 31
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Lake Charles, Louisiana
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 8–1
| Jessica Penne
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 25
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Chicago, Illinois, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 7–1
| Rosi Sexton
| KO (knee and punches)
| Bellator 23
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:00
| Louisville, Kentucky
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 6–1
| Michelle Ould
| Verbal Submission (leg strikes)
| The Warriors Cage 8: Meltdown
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 2:42
| Porterville, California
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 5–1
| Miesha Tate
| Submission (armbar)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 4:09
| Fresno, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 5–0
| Jessica Rakoczy
| Submission (armbar)
| Tachi Palace Fights 3: Champions Collide
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 1:17
| Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 4–0
| Elisha Helsper
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Fresno, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 3–0
| Leann Jenkins
| Decision (unanimous)
| PureCombat 9: Home Turf
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Visalia, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 2–0
| Sarah Boyd
| Decision (unanimous)
| Disturbing The Peace
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Fresno, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 1–0
| Karina Hallinan
| Decision (split)
| Wargods/Ken Shamrock Productions: The Valentine's Eve Massacre
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:00
| Fresno, California
, United States
|
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
professional female mixed martial artist. Her nickname comes from the popular 1990s TV series Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
. She is the current Bellator
Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
Women's Champion at 115 pounds.
Gurgel is currently the #5-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #2-ranked 125-pound female fighter according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.
Early life
Zoila's father is a third-degree black belt in tae kwon do. Her sister, Stephanie, is also a professional MMA fighter.She graduated from Madera High School in 2002 and attended Fresno City College.
Mixed martial arts career
Gurgel debuted in mixed martial arts on February 13, 2009 and faced Karina Hallinan at WarGods: Valentine's Eve Massacre. She defeated Hallinan by Split Decision.She next faced Sarah Boyd on June 27, 2009 at Disturbing The Peace in Fresno, California. Gurgel won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
On July 25, 2009, Gurgel fought Leeann Jenkins at Pure Combat 9 - Home Turf. She won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
Gurgel faced Elisha Helsper at Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista
Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista
Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The fourth Challengers episode took place on November 6, 2009, at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, California.-Televised card:...
on November 6, 2009 and won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
She next faced Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy is a professional boxer and professional mixed martial arts fighter from Hamilton, Ontario. She is as a 3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.-MMA record:- Championships :...
at Tachi Palace Fights 3 - Champions Collide on February 4, 2010. Gurgel won the fight by armbar submission in the first round.
Gurgel faced Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate is a professional mixed martial artist.She is the current Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion and the current Freestyle Cage Fighting Women's Bantamweight Champion...
on March 26, 2010 at Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe
Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe
Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The seventh Challengers episode took place on March 26, 2010, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The event drew an estimated 316,000 viewers on Showtime.-Televised card:*Heavyweight bout: ...
. She lost the fight by armbar submission in the second round.
On May 16, 2010, Gurgel dropped down to 125 pounds to face Michelle Ould at TWC 8 - Meltdown in Porterville, California
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
. She defeated Ould by verbal submission after Ould suffered an ankle injury in the second round.
Bellator Fighting Championships
Gurgel faced Rosi SextonRosi Sexton
Rosemary Ann Sexton is a British female mixed martial artist. She is also a sports therapist, osteopath, and writer for Fighters Only magazine....
at Bellator 23 on June 24. She defeated Sexton by knockout exactly two minutes into the first round.
She entered the Bellator Season Three
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Three
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Three was the third installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which started on August 12, 2010. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in multiple weight classes, including the bantamweight division, heavyweight division and women's division at...
115-pound women's tournament at Bellator 25 and faced Jessica Penne in the opening round. Gurgel won the fight via unanimous decision.
Gurgel faced Jessica Aguilar in the second round of the Bellator tournament at Bellator 31. She won the fight via controversial split decision and went on to face Megumi Fujii
Megumi Fujii
Megumi Fujii is a female Japanese mixed martial artist. She is currently the #3-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #1-ranked female flyweight according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.-Biography:Fujii specializes mainly in submission fighting and is...
in the tournament final at Bellator 34 on October 28, 2010. Gurgel once again won via controversial split decision, handing Fujii her first professional defeat and becoming the inaugural 115-pound women's champion.
In her first fight after marriage, Gurgel faced Karina Hallinan at Bellator 35 in a non-title match on March 5, 2011 in Lemoore, California. She won the fight via unanimous decision but suffered a right hand fracture.
Gurgel agreed to rematch Jessica Aguilar
Jessica Aguilar
Jessica Aguilar is a Mexican American female mixed martial artist who currently competes for Bellator Fighting Championships...
in a non-title bout at a Bellator event in late October. However, Aguilar withdrew from the planned fight while recovering from foot surgery and Gurgel was booked to face Carina Damm
Carina Damm
Carina Paganini Damm Golçalvez is a Brazilian female mixed martial artist.Regarded for her looks as much as for her fighting abilities, Damm was dubbed MMA's "Barbie Girl" by the Brazilian media....
at Bellator 57 on November 12, 2011. Gurgel withdrew from the bout on October 20 after suffering a torn ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in training and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months.
Personal life
Frausto married fellow MMAMixed 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...
fighter Jorge Gurgel
Jorge Gurgel
Jorge Valente Gurgel is a Brazilian-American Mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who currently competes in Strikeforce's lightweight division.- Early life :...
on February 19, 2011.
Championships and accomplishments
- Bellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
- Bellator Women's 115 lb Championship (One time; First; Current)
- Bellator Season 3 Women's 115 lb Tournament Winner
Mixed martial arts record
|-| Win
| align=center| 11–1
| Karina Hallinan
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 35
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 10–1
| Megumi Fujii
Megumi Fujii
Megumi Fujii is a female Japanese mixed martial artist. She is currently the #3-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #1-ranked female flyweight according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.-Biography:Fujii specializes mainly in submission fighting and is...
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 34
|
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 9–1
| Jessica Aguilar
Jessica Aguilar
Jessica Aguilar is a Mexican American female mixed martial artist who currently competes for Bellator Fighting Championships...
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 31
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 8–1
| Jessica Penne
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 25
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Chicago, Illinois, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 7–1
| Rosi Sexton
Rosi Sexton
Rosemary Ann Sexton is a British female mixed martial artist. She is also a sports therapist, osteopath, and writer for Fighters Only magazine....
| KO (knee and punches)
| Bellator 23
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:00
| Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 6–1
| Michelle Ould
| Verbal Submission (leg strikes)
| The Warriors Cage 8: Meltdown
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 2:42
| Porterville, California
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 5–1
| Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate is a professional mixed martial artist.She is the current Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion and the current Freestyle Cage Fighting Women's Bantamweight Champion...
| Submission (armbar)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe
Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe
Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The seventh Challengers episode took place on March 26, 2010, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The event drew an estimated 316,000 viewers on Showtime.-Televised card:*Heavyweight bout: ...
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 4:09
| Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 5–0
| Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy is a professional boxer and professional mixed martial arts fighter from Hamilton, Ontario. She is as a 3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.-MMA record:- Championships :...
| Submission (armbar)
| Tachi Palace Fights 3: Champions Collide
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 1:17
| Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 4–0
| Elisha Helsper
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista
Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista
Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The fourth Challengers episode took place on November 6, 2009, at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, California.-Televised card:...
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 3–0
| Leann Jenkins
| Decision (unanimous)
| PureCombat 9: Home Turf
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Visalia, California
Visalia, California
Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 2–0
| Sarah Boyd
| Decision (unanimous)
| Disturbing The Peace
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 1–0
| Karina Hallinan
| Decision (split)
| Wargods/Ken Shamrock Productions: The Valentine's Eve Massacre
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:00
| Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|