Haim Gozali
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 4th degree Jiu Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie.
| Haim Gozali | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 6 May 1973[1] Bat Yam, Israel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Israeli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Welterweight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ninjutsu, Karate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Bat Yam, Israel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Renzo Gracie Israel[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] Black belt in Ninjutsu[4] Black belt in Karate[4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1998–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Background
Gozali served at the Israel Border Police in the Israeli army. Later, Gozali claimed he 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 Betllator'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 a 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, Aviv, who 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 3 events in Israel with the promotion - Bellator 164, Bellator 188 and Bellator 209, 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 MMA in 2019, 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 | ||
| 18 matches | 12 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 11 | 2 |
| By decision | 0 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
References
- "Haim Gozali". Bellator.
- "Haim Gozali". Tapology.
- "Bellator 188 results: 'Lahat vs Labiano'". MMA Mania. November 17, 2017.
- "עוף גוזלי: לוחם ה-MMA הישראלי ששבר את תקרת הזכוכית". sport1.maariv.co.il.
- "The 44-year-old Israeli MMA Fighter With a Magen David Tattoo on His Elbow". Tablet. June 22, 2017.
- "Israel's Haim Gozali discusses how getting stabbed altered MMA career". MMAFighting. June 21, 2017.
- "Bellator 180: Israeli 'Batman' prepares to fight in Madison Square Garden". Bloody Elbow. June 14, 2017.
- "UFC veterans in Israel". USA Today. November 9, 2010. Retrieved on October 25, 2018.
- "Haim Gozali and The ADCC: Jiu-Jitsu Transcends Politics". 3 September 2015.
- "AFFILIATED". RENZO GRACIE.
- "Watch: Meet Haim Gozali, The First Israeli MMA Fighter To Fight In MSG". The Jewish Week. June 26, 2017.
- "Gozali-Couture 2 & Dandois-Rubin Set For Bellator 209". MMA TakeOver. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
- Dave Doyle (June 24, 2017). "Bellator 180 results: Ryan Couture grinds out win over Haim Gozali". mmafighting.com.
- "Bellator 234 video highlights with Vassell's dominance, father-son Gozali submissions". mmajunkie.com. November 16, 2019.
- Sherdog.com. "Haim Gozali MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-21.