Virgil Zwicker, (born June 26, 1982), is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Zwicker has formerly competed for Bellator MMA, Strikeforce and KSW.
Background
Zwicker grew up on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation in North County, San Diego, to a father who was a truck driver and a mother who worked hard to support Zwicker and his 11 other siblings. Zwicker's older brother was a Golden Gloves boxer and aided Zwicker in his fighting career. Zwicker belongs to the Kumeyaay-Ipai tribe and grew up in a poverty stricken environment. There weren't a lot of opportunities for Zwicker to play organized sports growing up, but he was a star football player in Pop Warner, known as a smaller player who hit very hard. With little supervision on the reservation, by the age of eleven Zwicker was routinely fighting grown men. It was also when he was eleven years old that he was arrested for the first time, in 1994. The arrest was for assaulting his school's vice principal and from then until 2005, Zwicker spent most of his time in and out of juvenile halls and prisons for various offenses, including assaulting a police officer. After spending over four years in prison for this offense, he returned a year later for knocking a man's eye out in a fight.[2] He attended Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California.[3]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Zwicker's first fight came when he was released from being incarcerated and took the fight on two weeks' notice.[3] He defeated Denis Hall in under a minute via TKO. He then racked up a 9–1 record, defeating notables such as future UFC and Strikeforce competitor Ovince St. Preux.
Zwicker faced Mike Hayes on December 7, 2013 at KSW 25. He won the fight via KO in the first round.[7]
Bellator MMA
Zwicker signed a mult-fight contract with Bellator, facing Nick Moghadden on September 13, 2013 at Bellator 99. He won the fight by TKO in round one.[8]
In his second fight for the promotion, Zwicker faced Linton Vassell at Bellator 122 on July 25, 2014.[9] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.
Zwicker filled in for an injured James Thompson against UFC veteran Houston Alexander on October 17, 2014 at Bellator 129.[10] The fight ended in a majority draw as Alexander was docked a point for repeated illegal headbutting.
A rematch with Alexander took place at Bellator 132 on January 16, 2015.[11] Zwicker won the bout via split decision.
Zwicker faced former UFC competitor Razak Al-Hassan at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015.[12] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Zwicker next faced Brian Rogers on December 4, 2015 at Bellator 147.[13] He lost the fight via submission in the second round.
Zwicker faced Dan Charles at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
World Fighting Championship Akhmat
Zwicker signed three-fight deal with Chechen promotion World Fighting Championship Akhmat. Zwicker made his debut for the organisation on May 21, 2017 in Grozny, Chechnya
Kickboxing
Zwicker debuted as a Muay Thaikickboxer in the main event of WCK Muay Thai: Bad to the Bone in Temecula, California on April 6, 2013, losing to Sergio Piqué via split decision.[14] He will rematch Piqué at WCK Muay Thai: Matter of Pride in Temecula, California, US on February 15, 2014.[15]
Personal life
On Christmas Eve of 2013, Zwicker was stabbed in an attempted carjacking, but was able to fend off the three assailants attempting to take his car and was not wounded fatally.[16]
On July 10, 2019 Zwicker was arraigned on charges of sexual assault of a minor and plead not guilty. In all, Zwicker was charged with resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a firearm, aggravated sexual assault on a minor and lewd acts on a child.[17]
It was reported by San Diego County police that Zwicker has been involved in 10 legal cases between 2003 and 2014.
