Cezar Ferreira


Cezar Jesus Ferreira, better known in his home country Brazil as Cezar Mutante, is a mixed martial artist currently competing in the light heavyweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and was the inaugural winner of Globo's.

Background

Ferreira grew up wrestling and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu throughout his childhood and adolescence. Viewing tapes of UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie fighting caused his interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA to grow. 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 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 Mutapcic via one-punch knockout.

The Ultimate Fighter

In March 2012, it was revealed that Mutante was selected to be a participant on . 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 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 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 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. 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.
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. 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. 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.

Championships and awards

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts exhibition record