Cezar Ferreira

Cezar Jesus Ferreira (born February 15, 1985), better known in his home country Brazil as Cezar Mutante, is a mixed martial artist currently competing in the light heavyweight division.

A professional MMA competitor since 2007, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters League.

He was also the inaugural winner of Globo's The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil

Ferreira was born in Catanduva, but grew up in Ibitinga, São Paulo.

He began training capoeira at the age of six.

Cezar 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.

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 (doctor stoppage) 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 Mutapčić via one-punch knockout.

In March 2012, it was revealed that Mutante was selected to be a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.

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 (second overall) 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 (guillotine choke) 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 (head kick) and was expected to face Sérgio Moraes, who replaced for Sarafian due to an injury.

Mutante was expected to make his UFC debut on June 23, 2012, at UFC 147 against Daniel Sarafian to determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.

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 (28–29, 30–27, and 30–28).

The bout with C. B. Dollaway eventually took place on March 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 38.