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Haim Gozali (Hebrew: חיים גוזלי; born May 6, 1973) is an Israeli mixed martial artist. He is best known for his tenure in Bellator. Gozali is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo Gracie.

Background

Gozali served in the Israel Defense Forces.

In 2005, Gozali was stabbed while working as a bouncer in an Israeli night club.

Gozali's nickname, "The Israeli Batman", is related to his obsession with the 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."

Gozali's son, Aviv Gozali, is also a mixed martial artist.

Gozali is the president of ADCC Israel and the first Israeli to compete in an ADCC event.

Professional career

Gozali began his mixed martial arts (MMA) career in 1998, losing to Carlos Newton via armbar. He compiled a 6-3 record before debuting for Bellator MMA in 2016.

In 2010, Gozali produced the MMA event Israel FC: Genesis in Israel, featuring multiple UFC veterans. He later signed with Bellator to work as a promoter and produced 4 events in Israel with the promotion - Bellator 164, Bellator 188, Bellator 209, and Bellator 234, which took place at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.

Bellator MMA

On June 24, 2017, Gozali faced Ryan Couture in a welterweight bout on the Bellator 180 preliminary card, becoming the first Israeli MMA fighter to compete in Madison Square Garden. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

At Bellator 188 on November 16, 2017, Gozali fought Mykyta Mikhno, winning via submission. Gozali then fought Jose Campos at Bellator 192, losing via unanimous decision. Gozali fought Ryan Couture in a rematch at Bellator 209, losing again via unanimous decision.

Last fight

After three straight victories, Gozali competed at Bellator 234 on November 15, 2019, with his son Aviv, in their native Israel. Gozali faced Artur Pronin, winning the fight via first-round submission. Gozali retired after the fight. Gozali and Pronin's performances led to accusations of the bout being fixed. Criticism included no serious head strikes and light striking that resembled a sparring session, Pronin putting himself in inferior positions despite his experience, and the end of the fight where Gozali transitioned from an armbar to a heel hook without proper control of Pronin's leg, with Pronin tapping out immediately instead of trying to defend the submission. It was noted that Pronin was on a seven-win streak at the time with several submission victories, while this was a "hometown" bout for Gozali and his last fight.

Return

Gozali returned to MMA and began bare-knuckle boxing in 2020 after his security company faced financial hardship due to COVID-19. He made his bare-knuckle boxing debut on February 5, 2021 at BKFC: KnuckleMania. Gozali faced John McAllister, who had a win/loss record of 0–4. McAllister controlled the first round, out-striking Gozali. Gozali made a comeback in the second round, knocking McAllister down twice for the ref to stop the bout.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Real Fight Promotion
  • RFP Middleweight Championship (One time)

• The Dice Team
  • TDT Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

Bare-knuckle boxing record

References

1. "Haim Gozali". Bellator.
2. "Haim Gozali". Tapology.
3. ^ "Certified Black Belts". IBJJF.com. Retrieved 2023-11-24. Search "Haim Gozali"
4. ^ Gilboa, Ram (June 14, 2017). "Bellator 180: Israeli 'Batman' prepares to fight in Madison Square Garden". Bloody Elbow.
5. Zeitlin, Alan (June 22, 2017). "The 44-year-old Israeli MMA Fighter With a Magen David Tattoo on His Elbow". Tablet.
6. ^ "COVID forces Haim Gozali, Israeli MMA fighter, out of retirement". The Jerusalem Post. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
7. Nambiar, Abhishek (2023-11-03). "Usman Nurmagomedov gives a scathing 8-word reply to Israeli fighter Haim Gozali's son over distasteful missile message to Muslim fighters". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
8. Fischer, Emil (3 September 2015). "Haim Gozali and The ADCC: Jiu-Jitsu Transcends Politics". Jiu-Jitsu Times.
9. ^ "Haim Gozali MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
10. "UFC veterans in Israel". USA Today. November 9, 2010. Retrieved on October 25, 2018.
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. Samuel, Ezra (2023-10-11). "MMA analyst throws shade at Bellator over suspicious looking bout featuring Israeli star". Calfkicker.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
16. Christ, Scott (2021-02-05). "BKFC KnuckleMania results and highlights: Bloodbaths, knockouts, and a one-legged man winning an ass-kicking contest". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2023-11-06.

• 1973 births
• Living people
• Bare-knuckle boxers
• People from Bat Yam
• Sportspeople from Tel Aviv District
• Israeli male boxers
• Israeli male mixed martial artists
• Israeli practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Israeli soldiers
• Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing
• Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Welterweight mixed martial artists