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.

Virgil Zwicker
An American professional mixed martial artist
Born (1982-06-26) June 26, 1982 (age 42)
San Pasqual Indian Reservation, San Diego, United States
Other namesRezdog
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight239.4 lb (108.6 kg; 17.10 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Reach74.0 in (188 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofTemecula, California, United States
TeamTeam Quest
Years active2003, 2005–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total26
Wins17
By knockout13
By submission2
By decision2
Losses8
By knockout2
By submission4
By decision2
Draws1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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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

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Early career

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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.

Strikeforce

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Zwicker signed with Strikeforce and fought Lavar Johnson at Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker.[4] However, Zwicker lost via first-round KO, after the two veterans exchanged wild punches.

Zwicker next fought against Brett Albee at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley.[5] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

At Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier, Zwicker faced Guto Inocente. He lost the fight via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).[6]

Zwicker faced Mike Hayes on December 7, 2013 at KSW 25. He won the fight via KO in the first round.[7]

Bellator MMA

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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

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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

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Zwicker debuted as a Muay Thai kickboxer 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

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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.

Kickboxing record

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Kickboxing record
0 wins (0 KOs), 2 loss, 0 draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record
2016-01-09 Loss   Xiu Pengcheng Kunlun Fight 36 Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, China KO 2 0-2
2013-04-06 Loss   Sergio Piqué WCK Muay Thai: Bad to the Bone Temecula, California, USA Decision (split) 5 3:00 0-1
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
26 matches 17 wins 8 losses
By knockout 13 2
By submission 2 4
By decision 2 2
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 17–8–1 Attila Végh KO (punches) Oktagon 12 June 8, 2019 1 3:18 Bratislava, Slovakia
Loss 16–8–1 Alexander Romanov Submission (neck crank) S-70: Plotforma Cup 2018 August 22, 2018 1 1:15 Sochi, Russia
Loss 16–7–1 Aleksander Emelianenko TKO (punches) World Fighting Championship Akhmat 44 December 17, 2017 1 3:03 Grozny, Russia
Win 16–6–1 Nikoley Rachek KO (punches) Plotforma S-70 8th August 8, 2017 1 0:15 Sochi, Russia
Loss 15–6–1 Zelimkhan Umiev Submission (kimura) World Fighting Championship Akhmat 38 May 21, 2017 1 1:14 Grozny, Chechnya, Russia
Win 15–5–1 Dan Charles TKO (punches) Bellator 162 October 21, 2016 2 4:31 Memphis, Tennessee, United States Return to Heavyweight.
Loss 14–5–1 Brian Rogers Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 147 December 4, 2015 2 4:38 San Jose, California, United States
Win 14–4–1 Razak Al-Hassan KO (punch) Bellator 137 May 15, 2015 1 3:51 Temecula, California, United States Catchweight bout of 206 lbs.
Win 13–4–1 Houston Alexander Decision (split) Bellator 132 January 16, 2015 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States
Draw 12–4–1 Houston Alexander Draw (majority) Bellator 129 October 17, 2014 3 5:00 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Catchweight bout of 215 lbs.
Loss 12–4 Linton Vassell Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 122 July 25, 2014 1 1:07 Temecula, California, United States
Win 12–3 Mike Hayes KO (punch) KSW 25: Khalidov vs. Sakurai December 7, 2013 1 1:12 Wroclaw, Poland KSW Fight of the Night. Catchweight bout of 209 lbs.
Win 11–3 Nick Moghadden TKO (punches) Bellator 99 September 13, 2013 1 3:22 Temecula, California, United States
Loss 10–3 Guto Inocente Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier May 19, 2012 3 5:00 San Jose, California, United States Return to Light Heavyweight.
Win 10–2 Brett Albee TKO (punches) Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley April 9, 2011 1 1:46 San Diego, California, United States
Loss 9–2 Lavar Johnson KO (punches) Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker October 22, 2010 1 2:17 Fresno, California, United States
Win 9–1 Eddie Sapp Submission (rear-naked choke) Native Fighting Championship 6 August 14, 2010 1 2:01 Campo, California, United States
Loss 8–1 Cody Goodale Decision (unanimous) Gladiator Challenge: Maximum Force April 25, 2010 3 5:00 San Jacinto, California, United States Return to Heavyweight.
Win 8–0 Ovince Saint Preux TKO (punches) Top Combat Championship 1 September 26, 2009 2 0:46 San Juan, Puerto Rico Light Heavyweight debut.
Win 7–0 William Richey Decision (unanimous) Called Out MMA 1 August 15, 2009 3 5:00 Ontario, California, United States
Win 6–0 Buckley Acosta TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge: Venom April 23, 2009 1 2:59 Pauma Valley, California, United States
Win 5–0 Dave Diaz Submission GC 85: Cross Fire October 25, 2008 1 1:41 San Diego, California, United States
Win 4–0 Abraham Ramirez TKO (punches) Apocalypse Fights 1 August 7, 2008 1 N/A Alabama, United States
Win 3–0 Ty Montgomery TKO (punches) Galaxy Productions August 24, 2007 1 0:41 California, United States
Win 2–0 Tom Hubert TKO (doctor stoppage) Total Combat 10 October 15, 2005 2 1:54 San Diego, California, United States
Win 1–0 Denis Hall TKO (punches) CFF: Cobra Classic 9 April 16, 2003 1 0:58 Anza, California, United States

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ""Rezdog" Virgil Zwicker Profile". tapology.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  2. ^ "Bellator veteran Virgil Zwicker rammed and arrested by motorcycle cop during standoff". 8 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Fight Path: Virgil Zwicker's ride from an Indian reservation to the Strikeforce cage". mmajunkie.com. 2010-10-20. Archived from the original on 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
  4. ^ "LAVAR JOHNSON TO MEET VIRGIL ZWICKER, TALENTED SHANA OLSEN, JULIA BUDD CLASH AT SAVE MART CENTER IN FRESNO, CALIF., FRIDAY, OCT. 22, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®". strikeforce.com. 2010-10-06.
  5. ^ "Albee vs Zwicker added to prelims". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-03-29.
  6. ^ 'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' results: Guto Inocente outstrikes Virgil Zwicker Archived 2012-05-25 at the Wayback Machine by John Morgan and Steven Marrocco (mmajunkie.com) on May 19, 2012
  7. ^ "KSW 25: Virgil Zwicker vs. Mike Hayes". tapology.com. December 7, 2013.
  8. ^ "Bellator 99 - Temecula, CA - Bellator MMA". www.bellator.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-09.
  9. ^ "Bellator 122 fight card finalized; Baroni/Parisyan added to the main card". themmareport.com. June 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "James Thompson out, Virgil Zwicker in against Houston Alexander at Bellator 129". MMAFighting.com. October 12, 2014.
  11. ^ "Bellator 132 Fight Card". bellator.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-19. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  12. ^ Brent Brookhouse (March 31, 2015). "Three bouts announced for Bellator 137, including Mike Richman vs. Eduardo Dantas". mmajunkie.com.
  13. ^ "Bellator 147 Fight Card". bellator.com. 2015-12-11. Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  14. ^ WCK Muay Thai "Bad to the Bone" results
  15. ^ WCK Muay Thai "Matter of Pride" set for February 15th in Temecula, CA
  16. ^ "Bellator's Zwicker on stopping would-be car thief". 14 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Bellator veteran Virgil Zwicker pleads not guilty to sex assault of a minor, other charges". 11 July 2019.
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