Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Zaleski and the second or paternal family name is Santos.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Born (1986-11-12) November 12, 1986 (age 38)
Francisco Beltrao, Parana, Brazil[1]
Other namesCapoeira
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
StyleMuay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira
Fighting out ofCuritiba, Parana, Brazil[2]
TeamCM System
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cristiano Marcello[3]
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total34
Wins25
By knockout15
By submission3
By decision7
Losses8
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision5
Draws1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (born November 12, 1986) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He was the former Jungle Fight welterweight champion in Brazil[4] and currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[1]

Background

Zaleski was born in Francisco Beltrao, Parana, Brazil. He grew up training in Capoeira since age nine. Zaleski transitioned to MMA at age 20 and started competing professionally soon thereafter.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Zaleski started his MMA career on November 8, 2009, and he fought for many promoters notably Jungle Fight, Smash and Amazon Fight in Brazil. He was the former Jungle Fight welterweight champion and he built a record of 14–4 with 13 finishes and 1 decision prior joining UFC.[5]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Zaleski made his promotional debut on May 30, 2015, at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves against Nicolas Dalby.[6] Zaleski outstruck Dalby as he landed 16 more significant strikes, but judges handed the victory via split decision to Dalby as he successfully took Zaleski down six times.[7][8]

He faced Omari Akhmedov on his next fight at UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans on April 16, 2016.[4] He won the fight and claimed his first UFC win via knockout in the third round.[9][10] The fight earned him his first Fight of the Night bonus award.[11]

On October 1, 2016, Zaleski returned to face Keita Nakamura at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson. After three rounds of fighting, he won the fight with a unanimous decision with the score board of (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).[12]

Zaleski faced Lyman Good, former Bellator and CFFC champion, on July 22, 2017, at UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum.[13] He won the back-and-forth fight by split decision.[14] The fight also earned him his second Fight of the Night bonus award.[15]

Zaleski faced Max Griffin on October 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida.[16] He won the fight with a unanimous decision.[17][18] The win also earned him his third Fight of the Night bonus award.[19]

Zaleski was expected to face Jack Marshman on March 17, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 127.[20] However, on February 19, 2018, Zaleski announced that he is pulling out of the fight because of a knee injury.[21] He was replaced by Brad Scott[22]

Zaleski faced Sean Strickland on May 12, 2018, at UFC 224.[23] He won the fight with a knockout in the first round.[24]

Zaleski was scheduled to meet Belal Muhammad on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137.[25] On September 14, 2018, Muhammad was pulled out of the bout and he was replaced by newcomer Luigi Vendramini.[26] He won the fight via knockout in round two.[27]

Zaleski was scheduled to face Li Jingliang on November 25, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 141.[28] However on October 27, 2018, reports were made that Zaleski withdrew from the bout due to a partial ligament tear in his right knee.[29]

Zaleski faced Curtis Millender on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146.[30] He won the fight through submission in the first round.[31]

Zaleski was expected to face Neil Magny on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 151.[32] However, on March 28, 2019, dos Santos announced that he had not been contacted by the UFC about the match.[33]

A pairing with Li Jingliang was rescheduled and took place on August 31, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 157.[34] He lost the fight due to a technical knockout in round three.[35]

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Zaleski faced Alexey Kunchenko on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170.[36][37] He won the fight with a unanimous decision.[38]

As the first fight of his new, four-fight contract, Zaleski faced Muslim Salikhov on July 11, 2020, at UFC 251.[39][40] He lost the fight with a split decision.[41]

Zaleski was expected to face promotional newcomer Shavkat Rakhmonov on October 24, 2020 at UFC 254.[42] However, Zaleski pulled out in late September due to a knee injury that required surgery.[43]

Zaleski faced promotional newcomer Benoît Saint-Denis on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267.[44] After nearly finishing Saint-Denis in round two, he won the bout with a unanimous decision.[45]

Zaleski was scheduled to face Mounir Lazzez on April 16, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 34.[46] However, Zaleski dos Santos withdrew the week of the fight for personal reasons and was replaced by Ange Loosa.[47][48]

On September 22, 2022, it was announced that USADA suspended Zaleski for 1 year after testing positive for ostarine in an out-of-competition test on March 14, 2022. Zaleski and his team contended that the test was due to a contaminated supplement. He is eligible to return on March 14, 2023.[49]

Zaleski faced Abubakar Nurmagomedov June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46.[50] He won the fight through a split decision.[51]

Zaleski faced Rinat Fakhretdinov on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231.[52] The bout ended in a majority draw.[53]

Zaleski faced Randy Brown on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302.[54] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[55]

Zaleski was scheduled to face Nicolas Dalby in a rematch on November 9, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 247.[56] However, Dalby withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Zach Scroggin.[57] At the weigh-ins, Scroggin weighed in at 174 pounds, three pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Scroggins was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Zaleski.[58] Zaleski won the fight by technical knockout early in the first round.[59]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Personal life

His moniker "Capoeira” was coined as his first combat sport was Capoeira.[1]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
34 matches 25 wins 8 losses
By knockout 15 1
By submission 3 2
By decision 7 5
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 25–8–1 Zach Scroggin TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates November 9, 2024 1 1:15 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (174 lb) bout; Scroggin missed weight.
Loss 24–8–1 Randy Brown Decision (unanimous) UFC 302 June 1, 2024 3 5:00 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Draw 24–7–1 Rinat Fakhretdinov Draw (majority) UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis November 4, 2023 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 24–7 Abubakar Nurmagomedov Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi June 3, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 23–7 Benoît Saint Denis Decision (unanimous) UFC 267 October 30, 2021 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Zaleski dos Santos was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to a groin strike.
Loss 22–7 Muslim Salikhov Decision (split) UFC 251 July 12, 2020 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 22–6 Alexey Kunchenko Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira March 14, 2020 3 5:00 Brasília, Brazil
Loss 21–6 Li Jingliang TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang August 31, 2019 3 4:51 Shenzhen, China
Win 21–5 Curtis Millender Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos March 9, 2019 1 2:35 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win 20–5 Luigi Vendramini KO (flying knee and punches) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders September 22, 2018 2 1:20 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 19–5 Sean Strickland KO (spinning wheel kick and punches) UFC 224 May 12, 2018 1 3:40 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 18–5 Max Griffin Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida October 28, 2017 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil Fight of the Night.
Win 17–5 Lyman Good Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum July 22, 2017 3 5:00 Uniondale, New York, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 16–5 Keita Nakamura Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson October 1, 2016 3 5:00 Portland, Oregon, United States
Win 15–5 Omari Akhmedov TKO (knees and punches) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans April 16, 2016 3 3:03 Tampa, Florida, United States Fight of the Night.
Loss 14–5 Nicolas Dalby Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves May 30, 2015 3 5:00 Goiânia, Brazil
Win 14–4 Eduardo Ramon Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 75 December 18, 2014 2 2:07 Belém, Brazil Defended the Jungle Fight Welterweight Championship.
Win 13–4 Itamar Rosa KO (punches) Jungle Fight 71 July 19, 2014 1 1:59 São Paulo, Brazil Won the vacant Jungle Fight Welterweight Championship.
Win 12–4 Rodrigo Souza KO (punches) Jungle Fight 65 February 2, 2014 2 2:57 Bahia, Brazil
Win 11–4 Josenildo Ramalho KO (punches) Jungle Fight 59 October 12, 2013 1 2:42 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 10–4 Guilherme Vasconcelos Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 54 June 29, 2013 2 2:20 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 10–3 Ricardo Silva KO (punches) SMASH Fight 1 May 3, 2013 1 1:16 Curitiba, Brazil Welterweight Tournament Final.
Win 9–3 Gilmar Dutra Lima KO (punch) SMASH Fight 1 May 3, 2013 1 0:27 Curitiba, Brazil Welterweight Tournament Semifinal.
Loss 8–3 Franklin Jensen Decision (unanimous) Sparta MMA September 29, 2012 3 5:00 Itajai, Brazil
Win 8–2 Misael Chamorro Submission (rear-naked choke) Beltrão Combat May 19, 2012 2 1:35 Francisco Beltrão, Brazil
Loss 7–2 Viscardi Andrade Submission (rear-naked choke) Max Fight 11 March 17, 2012 2 1:27 São Paulo, Brazil
Loss 7–1 José de Ribamar Decision (split) Amazon Fight 10 December 7, 2011 3 5:00 Belém, Brazil
Win 7–0 Jackson Pontes TKO (punches) Max Fight 10 November 10, 2011 1 2:42 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 6–0 João Paulo Prado TKO (retirement) Vale Fighting Championship August 6, 2011 2 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 5–0 Misael Chamorro TKO (punches) Big Bold's Night November 13, 2010 1 N/A Cascavel, Brazil
Win 4–0 Dyego Roberto TKO (body kick) Samurai Fight Combat 3 April 25, 2010 3 4:16 Curitiba, Brazil
Win 3–0 Christian Tide Squeti Decision (split) Londrina Fight Show 1 December 13, 2009 3 5:00 Londrina, Brazil
Win 2–0 Wellington Morgenstern KO (punches) B33 Fight 8 November 15, 2009 1 N/A Ponta Grossa, Brazil
Win 1–0 Douglas Jandozo KO (punches) G1 Open Fight 7 November 8, 2009 1 3:03 Joaquim Tavora, Brazil

[61]

See also

References

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  3. ^ "Interview: Elizeu Capoeira explains the jiu-jitsu detail that gave him the win at UFC Wichita". graciemag.com. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Akhmedov vs. Zaleski added to UFC on FOX 19". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  5. ^ Sherdog.com. "Elizeu". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
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