PRIDE veteran Wagner “Zuluzinho” Martins’ return to mixed martial arts didn’t last long.
Headlining Imortal FC 9 in his hometown Maranhao, Brazil, on Saturday night, “Zuluzinho” took on short-notice replacement Edvaldo Oliveira, a 60-fight veteran, in an openweight fight, and quit before the second round.
“Zuluzinho” had dealt with thrombosis when he fought for the last time eight years ago, and Oliveira, outweighed by “Zuluzinho” by 152 pounds, targeted his legs early on, landing seven leg kicks in the opening round.
Son of legendary vale tudo fighter “Rei Zulu” and having fought the likes of Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira more than 10 years ago in the PRIDE ring, “Zuluzinho” quit after the first round, and needed medical assistance inside the cage to check his legs.