Cezar Ferreira

Background

Ferreira was born in Catanduva, but grew up in Ibitinga, São Paulo. However, after having a rough home life and having to leave at seventeen years old, Mutante found Vitor 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.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

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 to Antônio 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 at Xtreme Couture. He was placed on the Ring of Fire 40 card in Broomfield, Colorado, on April 16, 2011. Ferreira defeated Chaun Sims via knockout 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 to Elvis Mutapčić via one-punch knockout.

The Ultimate Fighter

In March 2012, it was revealed that Mutante was selected to be a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Mutante defeated Gustavo Sampaio by submission with a guillotine choke in the second round to move into the Ultimate Fighter house, and become an official cast member.

Mutante was selected as the first pick (second overall) by his mentor and real-life coach Vitor Belfort to be a part of Team Vitor. In the second Middleweight fight of the season, Mutante was selected to fight Leonardo Mafra. Mutante won via submission (guillotine choke) in the second round. He was then scheduled to face Thiago Perpetuo for a spot in the final against Daniel Sarafian. He defeated Perpetuo by knockout (head kick) and was expected to face Sérgio Moraes, who replaced for Sarafian due to an injury.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Mutante was expected to make his UFC debut on June 23, 2012, at UFC 147 against Daniel Sarafian to determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. However, Sarafian injured himself and was forced out of the bout and replaced by Sérgio Moraes. Ferreira won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ferreira was expected to face C. B. Dollaway on May 18, 2013, at UFC on FX 8. However, Dollaway was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Chris Camozzi. Then on April 7, Ferreira pulled out of the fight as well, citing an injury and was replaced by Rafael Natal.

Ferreira was expected to face Clint Hester on August 3, 2013, at UFC 163. However, Hester was forced out of the bout and Ferreira instead faced promotional newcomer Thiago Santos. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Ferreira faced Daniel Sarafian on November 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 32. He won the fight via split decision (28–29, 30–27, and 30–28).

The bout with C. B. Dollaway eventually took place on March 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 38. Ferreira lost via TKO in the first round.

Ferreira faced Andrew Craig on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 44. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ferreira faced Sam Alvey on February 22, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 61. Alvey won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Ferreira faced Jorge Masvidal in a welterweight bout on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Ferreira was expected to face Caio Magalhães on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. However, Magalhães pulled out of the fight in the week leading up to the event citing an ankle injury and was replaced by Oluwale Bamgbose. Ferreira won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ferreira next faced Anthony Smith on July 8, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ferreira faced Jack Hermansson on November 19, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 100. He won the fight via submission in the second round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.

Ferreira faced Elias Theodorou on February 19, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 105. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Ferreira faced Nate Marquardt on November 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 120. He won the fight via split decision.

Ferreira faced Karl Roberson on May 12, 2018, at UFC 224. He won the fight via technical submission in the first round.

Ferreira was expected to face Tom Breese on November 17, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 140. 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. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

The pairing with Breese was rescheduled and was expected to take place on March 16, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 147. However, on February 1, 2019, Ferreira withdrew from the fight on February 1, citing a knee injury.

Ferreira faced Marvin Vettori on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 155. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Professional Fighters League

In March 2020, Ferreira signed with Professional Fighters League.

Ferreira faced Nick Roehrick on April 29, 2021, at PFL 2 as the start of the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight tournament. He won the fight via knockout 37 seconds into the first round.

Ferreira faced Chris Camozzi at PFL 5 on June 17, 2021. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Ferreira faced Marthin Hamlet in the Semifinals off the Light Heavyweight tournament on August 27, 2021, at PFL 9. Off his very first kick, Ferreira injured his hamstring, which sent him down to the canvas and the fight was called.

Ferreira, replacing Patrick Brady, faced Denis Goltsov on April 14, 2023 at PFL 3. He lost the bout in the first round, getting knocked out by ground and pound. In early May, it was announced that Ferreira had failed a commission drug test and was pulled from the season. Ferreira was later suspended 9 months and fined for testing positive for Clomiphene and androstanolone

Championships and awards

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Middleweight Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record

|ko-wins=4 |sub-wins=4 |dec-wins=6 |ko-losses=6 |sub-losses=0

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |Hollywood, Florida, United States

| |Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |- |Win |Nick Roehrick |KO (punches) |PFL 2 (2021) | |Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

| |Sacramento, California, United States | |- |Loss |Ian Heinisch |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | |Buenos Aires, Argentina | |- |Win |Karl Roberson |Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) |UFC 224 | |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |- |Win |Nate Marquardt |Decision (split) |UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | |Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |- |Loss |Elias Theodorou |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne | |Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | |- |Win |Jack Hermansson |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Nogueira 2 | |São Paulo, Brazil

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |Oluwale Bamgbose |Decision (unanimous) |UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans | |Tampa, Florida, United States

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |Porto Alegre, Brazil | |- |Win |Andrew Craig |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens | |San Antonio, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |C. B. Dollaway |KO (punches) |UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 | |Natal, Brazil | |- |Win |Daniel Sarafian |Decision (split) |UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 2 | |Goiânia, Brazil | |- |Win |Thiago Santos |Submission (guillotine choke) |UFC 163 | |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |- |Win |Sérgio Moraes |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 147 | |Belo Horizonte, Brazil

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |Chaun Sims |KO (punch) |Ring of Fire 40 | |Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |- |Win |Cassiano de Freitas |TKO (doctor stoppage) |Bitetti Combat 7 | |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |- |Win |Felipe Arinelli |Technical Submission (D'Arce choke) |Bitetti Combat 6 | |Brasília, Brazil | |- |Loss |Antônio Braga Neto |Decision (unanimous) |XFC Brazil 1 | |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |- |Win |André Severo |TKO (punches) |XFC Brazil 1 | |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |Middleweight debut.

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

|ko-wins=1 |ko-losses=0 |sub-wins=2 |sub-losses=0 |dec-wins=

| | Brazil

| | Brazil

| | Brazil | Fought at 185.

References

References

1. (July 24, 2017). "Cezar Mutante vem a Curitiba para reencontro com mestres".
2. "Fight Card - The Ultimate Fighter Finale American Top Team vs. Blackzilians". [[Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3. "Cezar Ferreira".
4. Zane Simon. (April 23, 2013). "Mauricio Rua cuts ties with André Dida; Cezer Ferreira joins Blackzilians". bloodyelbow.com.
5. John Morgan. (January 26, 2016). "'TUF: Brazil 1' winner Cezar 'Mutante' Ferreira moves to Florida's MMA Masters team". [[MMAjunkie.com]].
6. "Cezar Ferreira - Official UFC Fighter Profile".
7. (April 1, 2012). "Cezar Ferreira TUF Profile". [[Ultimate Fighting Championship.
8. (April 23, 2012). "TUF Brasil Episode Five Recap". [[Ultimate Fighting Championship.
9. "Episode No. 5 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil'".
10. "Sergio Moraes replaces injured Daniel Sarafian in 'TUF: Brazil' middleweight final | MMAjunkie.com".
11. Staff. (2013-03-04). "Roger Gracie e Cezar Mutante reforçam card do UFC em Jaraguá (Brazilian Portuguese)". portaldovaletudo.com.br.
12. (April 1, 2013). "Chris Camozzi in for injured C.B. Dollaway vs. Cezar Ferreira at UFC on FX 8". mmajunkie.com.
13. (2013-04-07). "Chris Camozzi vs. Rafael Natal slated for UFC on FX 8 in Brazil". mmajunkie.com.
14. Dana Becker. (2013-05-30). "Cezar Ferreira-Clint Hester Slated For UFC 163". fightline.com.
15. Christoferr Esping. (2013-07-18). "Clint Hester skadad, Thiago 'Marreta' möter nu Cezar 'Mutante' på UFC 163". mmanytt.se.
16. Staff. (2013-09-04). "Cezar Ferriera vs. Daniel Sarafian set for November's UFC Fight Night 32 co-main". mmajunkie.com.
17. Guilherme Cruz. (14 January 2014). "Cezar Ferreira vs. CB Dollaway agreed for UFC event in Brazil". MMAFighting.com.
18. Daniel Saludo. (2014-04-22). "Craig to fight Ferreira in San Antonio". csnhouston.com.
19. Tristen Critchfield. (2014-12-18). "Ferreira-Alvey announced for UFC Fight Night in Brazil on Feb. 22". sherdog.com.
20. Steven Marrocco. (2015-02-22). "UFC Fight Night 61 results: Sam Alvey all smiles after bulldozing Cezar Ferreira". mmajunkie.com.
21. Guilherme Cruz. (2015-05-07). "Jorge Masvidal moves up to welterweight, meets Cezar Ferreira at TUF 21 Finale". mmafighting.com.
22. Matt Erickson. (2015-07-12). "TUF 21 Finale results: Jorge Masvidal returns to 170, gets big KO of Cezar Ferreira". mmajunkie.com.
23. Tristen Critchfield. (2016-02-17). "Caio Magalhaes to face Cezar 'Mutante' at UFC on Fox 19". sherdog.com.
24. Damon Martin. (2016-04-09). "Caio Magalhaes out; Oluwale Bamgbose to face Cezar Ferreira in Tampa". foxsports.com.
25. Ben Fowlkes. (2016-04-16). "UFC on FOX 19 results: Cezar Ferreira grinds out Oluwale Bamgbose after wobbly start". MMAjunkie.com.
26. Staff. (2016-04-28). "Cezar Ferreira in for Scott Askham at TUF 23 Finale in Las Vegas vs. Anthony Smith". mmajunkie.com.
27. Ben Fowlkes. (2016-07-08). "TUF 23 Finale results: Cezar Ferreira uses takedown-heavy game plan to top Anthony Smith". mmajunkie.com.
28. Guilherme Cruz. (2016-09-29). "Cezar Ferreira vs. Jack Hermansson slated for UFC Fight Night 100 in Sao Paulo". mmafighting.com.
29. Steven Marrocco. (2016-11-19). "UFC Fight Night 100 results: Cezar Ferreira chokes out Jack Hermansson in second round". mmajunkie.com.
30. Tristen Critchfield. (2016-11-19). "UFC Fight Night 100 bonuses: Almeida, Ferreira, Antiglov, Munhoz pocket $50K". sherdog.com.
31. Lucas Rezende. (2016-12-07). "Theodorou vs. Ferreira set for UFC Halifax". bloodyelbow.com.
32. Andrew Pearson. (2017-02-19). "UFC Fight Night 105 results: Elias Theodorou edges out Cezar Ferreira via decision". mmammamania.com.
33. Lucas Rezende. (2017-08-05). "Nate Marquardt vs. Cezar Mutante set for UFC Fight Night in Norfolk". bloodyelbow.com.
34. (2017-11-12). "UFC Fight Night 120 results: Cezar Ferreira edges out Nate Marquardt, calls out Paulo Costa". MMAjunkie.
35. Guilherme Cruz. (2018-02-19). "Cezar Ferreira meets Karl Roberson at UFC 224 in Brazil".
36. (2018-05-13). "UFC 224 results: Cezar Ferreira puts Karl Roberson to sleep with slick arm-triangle choke". MMAjunkie.
37. Marcelo Barone and Raphael Marinho. (2018-08-21). "In search of the third consecutive victory, Mutante faces Breese in Argentina". sportv.globo.com.
38. "Breese deixa luta contra Mutante no UFC Argentina, e Ian Heinisch é escolhido como substituto". Sportv.
39. (2018-11-18). "UFC Argentina results: Ian Heinisch outpoints Cezar Ferreira in gutsy debut". MMAjunkie.
40. Peter Carroll. (2018-01-08). "Tom Breese gets new UFC London assignment as Cezar Ferreria replaces Alessio Di Chirico". mmafighting.com.
41. Newswire, MMA Fighting. (2019-02-01). "Cezar Ferreira announces withdrawal from UFC London".
42. Jay Pettry. "UFC returns to Sacramento in July". Sherdog.
43. (2019-07-13). "UFC Sacramento: Marvin Vettori damages, outworks Cezar Ferreira".
44. Marrocco, Steven. (2020-03-12). "UFC vet Cezar Ferreira signs with PFL".
45. Damon Martin. (March 2, 2021). "Rory MacDonald faces David Michaud in PFL debut as welterweights, light heavyweights begin season on April 29". MMAFighting.com.
46. Marrocco, Steven. (2021-04-29). "PFL 2 results: Rory MacDonald tricks Curtis Millender, gets first-round tapout".
47. Newswire, MMA Fighting. (2021-05-19). "Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau headlines PFL 5 main card with welterweights and light heavyweights".
48. (2021-06-17). "PFL 5: Rory MacDonald, Ray Cooper III, Emiliano Sordi secure playoff spots".
49. Newswire, MMA Fighting. (2021-07-20). "PFL playoff cards announced with first event kicking off Aug. 13 with Rory MacDonald vs. Ray Cooper in main event".
50. Anderson, Jay. (2021-08-27). "PFL Playoffs 3 Results: Ferreira Falls to Injury, Antonio Carlos Jr. Will Face Marthin Hamlet in October".
51. (2023-04-12). "Cezar 'Mutante' Replaces Patrick Brady, Makes HW Debut vs. Denis Goltsov at PFL 3".
52. "Denis Goltsov drags Cezar Ferreira to the mat and deals out massive damage for a Quick Six".
53. (2023-05-12). "Nine PFL fighters suspended, scrambling season".
54. (2023-06-20). "7 PFL fighters punished for drug tests; multiple bout results overturned".
55. Sherdog.com. "Cezar".