Haim Gozali

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Haim Gozali
Born (1973-05-06) 6 May 1973 (age 48)[1]
Bat Yam, Israel
NationalityIsraeli
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ninjutsu, Karate
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofBat Yam, Israel
TeamRenzo Gracie Israel[2]
Rank5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3]
Black belt in Ninjutsu[4]
Black belt in Karate[4]
Years active1998–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total18
Wins12
By knockout1
By submission11
Losses6
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  Israel
Submission Grappling
ADCC European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2015 -88 kg (masters +40)
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Nogi World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Ultra Heavyweight (master 2)
Nogi European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Heavyweight (adult)
Silver medal – second place 2014 Super Heavyweight (master 2)
Gold medal – first place 2015 Super Heavyweight (master 3)
Silver medal – second place 2016 Ultra Heavyweight (adult)
Nogi Pan-American Championship
Silver medal – second place 2014 Super Heavyweight (master 3)
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Absolute (master 3)
Gi American Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Super Heavyweight (master 3)
Nogi American Championship
Gold medal – first place 2015 Heavyweight (master 3)
Silver medal – second place 2016 Ultra Heavyweight (adult)
Gold medal – first place Super Fight Winner 2021

Haim Gozali (Hebrew: חיים גוזלי; born May 6, 1973), also known by the nickname The Israeli Batman, is an Israeli mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight division. He is best known for his tenure in Bellator. Gozali is also a 5th degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie. He is also the first Israeli to compete in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Background[]

Gozali served at the Israel Border Police in the Israeli army. Later, Gozali was stabbed six times while working as a bouncer in an Israeli night club.[5][6]

Gozali's nickname, "The Israeli Batman", was given to him by Bellator's announcer Mike Goldberg, and is related to his obsession with the legendary superhero. He has "collected enough Batman comics and paraphernalia to fill up most of a room in his house in Bat Yam" and he "has enough Batman tattoos to cover a good part of his skin, with the bat-sign prominently carried across his chest."[7]

Gozali has one son and a daughter. His son, Aviv, is also a mixed martial artist and is currently signed to Bellator.

Mixed martial arts career[]

In 2010, Gozali produced the MMA event Israel FC: Genesis in Israel, that featured multiple UFC veterans.[8] Following the event's success, he later signed with Bellator MMA to work as a promoter and produced 4 events in Israel with the promotion - Bellator 164, Bellator 188 and Bellator 209, Bellator 234, which took place at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.

Gozali is the president of ADCC Israel and the first Israeli to compete in an ADCC event.[9] Gozali is also the head of Renzo Gracie Israel Academy in Bat Yam.[10]

Gozali is the first Israeli MMA fighter to compete in Madison Square Garden.[11]

On November 16, 2017, Gozali scored the second fastest submission in Bellator's Welterweight division, ending the fight 45 seconds into the first round.

Bellator MMA[]

Gozali faced Ryan Couture in a welterweight bout at Bellator 180 on June 24, 2017.[12] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

After racking three straight victories, Gozali was scheduled to appear on the same event, Bellator 234, with his son Aviv in their native Israel. Haim faced Artur Pronin and won the fight via first-round submission. Haim retired after the fight.[14]

Mixed martial arts record[]

Professional record breakdown
21 matches 15 wins 6 losses
By knockout 1 1
By submission 14 2
By decision 0 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 15–6 Ilya Lupinov Submission (Triangle Choke) October 3, 2021 1 1:35 Kyiv, Ukraine
Win 14–6 Andrey Savchuck Submission (Heel Hook) June 23, 2021 1 0:05 Dubno, Ukraine
Win 13–6 Dmitriy Makhotskiy Submission (Triangle Choke) October 4, 2020 2 1:56 Kyiv, Ukraine
Win 12–6 Artur Pronin Submission (heel hook) Bellator 234 November 15, 2019 1 4:12 Tel Aviv, Israel
Win 11–6 Gustavo Wurlitzer Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 222 June 14, 2019 1 4:02 New York, New York, United States Catchweight (180 lbs) bout
Win 10–6 Dmitriy Makhotskiy Submission (heel hook) RFP: International MFC 1 December 14, 2018 1 2:57 Kiev, Ukraine
Win 9–6 Alexey Kolesnikov Submission (armbar) RFP: International MFC 1 December 14, 2018 1 2:37 Kiev, Ukraine
Loss 8–6 Ryan Couture Decision (unanimous) Bellator 209 November 16, 2018 3 5:00 Tel Aviv, Israel
Loss 8–5 Jose Campos Decision (unanimous) Bellator 192 January 20, 2018 3 5:00 Inglewood, California, United States
Win 8–4 Arsen Faitovich Technical Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 188 November 16, 2017 1 0:45 Tel Aviv, Israel
Loss 7–4 Ryan Couture Decision (unanimous) Bellator 180 June 24, 2017 3 5:00 New York City, New York, United States
Win 7–3 Zane Clerk Submission (heel hook) Bellator 164 November 10, 2016 1 1:41 Tel Aviv, Israel
Win 6–3 Zdravko Zdravkov Submission (armbar) AFN 1 September 15, 2012 1 0:33 Sliven, Bulgaria
Loss 5–3 Rustam Bogatyrev TKO (retirement) MFP: Mayor Cup 2012 May 26, 2012 1 5:00 Khabarovsk, Russia
Loss 5–2 Ronaldo Souza Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 7 December 17, 2006 1 1:33 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Win 5–1 Alcs Plotkin Submission (triangle choke) WPKL 2 May 7, 2004 1 2:22 Israel
Win 4–1 Yakov Mazer KO (punch) WPKL 1 March 23, 2003 1 1:35 Israel
Win 3–1 Dan Koan Submission (punches) IVTC 2 March 11, 2002 1 4:55 Israel
Win 2–1 Guy Micali Submission (punches) IFFC 1 December 5, 2000 1 3:34 Israel
Win 1–1 Maer Cobi Coen Submission (triangle choke) IVTC 1 April 14, 2000 1 2:34 Israel
Loss 0–1 Carlos Newton Submission (armbar) IFC: Israel vs. Canada January 1, 1998 1 0:00 Israel

[15]

Bareknuckle boxing record[]

Professional record breakdown
1 match 1 win 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 John McAllister TKO (punch) BKFC: KnuckleMania February 5, 2021 2 1:08 Lakeland, Florida, United States

References[]

  1. ^ "Haim Gozali". Bellator.
  2. ^ "Haim Gozali". Tapology.
  3. ^ "Bellator 188 results: 'Lahat vs Labiano'". MMA Mania. November 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "עוף גוזלי: לוחם ה-MMA הישראלי ששבר את תקרת הזכוכית". sport1.maariv.co.il.
  5. ^ "The 44-year-old Israeli MMA Fighter With a Magen David Tattoo on His Elbow". Tablet. June 22, 2017.
  6. ^ "Israel's Haim Gozali discusses how getting stabbed altered MMA career". MMAFighting. June 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "Bellator 180: Israeli 'Batman' prepares to fight in Madison Square Garden". Bloody Elbow. June 14, 2017.
  8. ^ "UFC veterans in Israel". USA Today. November 9, 2010. Retrieved on October 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Haim Gozali and The ADCC: Jiu-Jitsu Transcends Politics". 3 September 2015.
  10. ^ "AFFILIATED". RENZO GRACIE.
  11. ^ "Watch: Meet Haim Gozali, The First Israeli MMA Fighter To Fight In MSG". The Jewish Week. June 26, 2017.
  12. ^ "Gozali-Couture 2 & Dandois-Rubin Set For Bellator 209". MMA TakeOver. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  13. ^ Dave Doyle (June 24, 2017). "Bellator 180 results: Ryan Couture grinds out win over Haim Gozali". mmafighting.com.
  14. ^ "Bellator 234 video highlights with Vassell's dominance, father-son Gozali submissions". mmajunkie.com. November 16, 2019.
  15. ^ Sherdog.com. "Haim Gozali MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-21.

External links[]

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