João Zeferino

João Zeferino (born January 15, 1986) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes for the World Series of Fighting in the Lightweight Division.

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On May 18, 2013, Zeferino made his UFC debut replacing Chris Camozzi in his fight against Rafael Natal at UFC on FX 8. He lost via unanimous decision.

Zeferino was scheduled to face Kenny Robertson at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader on September 4, 2013 but after Robertson was pulled from the fight he was replaced by UFC newcomer Elias Silvério. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

World Series of Fighting

On October 7, 2015, Zeferino was announced as one of the participants in one night Lightweight tournament to determine the number one contender for the WSOF Lightweight Championship. On November 25, 2015, Zeferino made his World Series of Fighting debut at WSOF 25 defeating Brian Foster via heel hook submission in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals, Zeferino defeated Jorge Patino via heel hook submission in the first round advancing to the finals of the tournament where he was defeated when he rematched Foster who defeated him via technical knockout in the second round.

On April 2, 2016, Zeferino faced UFC vet Jon Fitch at WSOF 30 for the vacant WSOF Welterweight Championship. He lost via unanimous decision.

Zeferino is expected to face Jason High at WSOF 33 on October 7, 2016. He won via technical knockout in the third round.

On October 17, 2016, it was announced that Zeferino would challenge Justin Gaethje for the WSOF Lightweight Championship on December 31, 2016 at WSOF 34 in the main event. However, he was forced out of the fight and replaced by Luis Firmino.

Mixed martial arts record

|- |Win |align=center|21–8 |Jason High |TKO (punches) |WSOF 33 | |align=center|3 |align=center|0:51 |Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |- | Loss | align=center|20–8 | Jon Fitch | Decision (unanimous) | WSOF 30 | | align=center| 5 | align=center| 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|20–7 |Brian Foster |KO (punches) |WSOF 25 | |align=center|2 |align=center|4:51 |Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |- |Win |align=center|20–6 |Jorge Patino |Submission (heel hook) |WSOF 25 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:24 |Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |- |Win |align=center|19–6 |Brian Foster |Submission (heel hook) |WSOF 25 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:46 |Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |- |Win |align=center|18–6 |Juliano Luis dos Santos |Submission (rear [...] choke) |Imortal FC 1 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:29 |São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|17–6 |Jeovane Santana |Submission (rear [...] choke) |Octtagon Fight Night | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:35 |Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|16–6 |Gilmar Dutra Lima |Submission (heel hook) |Nitrix Fight Evolution 4 | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:57 |São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|15–6 |Jackson Miranda |Submission (armbar) |Decagon MMA Championship | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:25 |Londrina, Paraná, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|14–6 |Edson Mosca |KO (head kick) |Soa Jose Super Fight 5 | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:00 |São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|13–6 |Elias Silvério |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|13–5 |Rafael Natal |Decision (unanimous) |UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|13–4 |Wellington Geraldo de Oliveria |Submission (arm triangle choke) |Nitrix Champion Fight 14 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:46 |Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|12–4 |Thiago Rela |Submission (keylock) |MMA Rocks | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:30 |São Paulo, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|11–4 |Givago Francisco |Decision (unanimous) |Nitrix Champion Fight 12 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|10–4 |Deyvison Santos |Submission (armbar) |Bad Boy Fight Challenge 1 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:30 |São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|9–4 |Vagner Tiburcio |Decision (unanimous) |Sao Jose Super Fight 2 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|8–4 |Fabio Selim |TKO (punches) |Black Trunk Fight 3 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:45 |Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|7–4 |Sean Salmon |Submission (heel hook) |NAFC: Unleashed | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:25 |Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|6–4 |Eddie Larrea |TKO (punches) |Konquer the Kage 26 | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:32 |Hayward, Wisconsin, United States | |- |Win |align=center|6–3 |Joshua Thorpe |Submission (armbar) |UEP: Battle by the Bay | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:32 |United States | |- |Win |align=center|5–3 |Eric Thompson |Submission (rear [...] choke) |Battlegrounds 5 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:25 |New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |- |Win |align=center|4–3 |Colby McMahon |Submission (guillotine choke) |Atlas Fights: USA vs. Brazil | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:49 |Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |- |Win |align=center|3–3 |Eduardo Baby |Submission (arm triangle choke) |Sul Fight Championship 3 | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:00 |Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|2–3 |Marcelo Silva |Submission (arm triangle choke) |Curitiba Top Fight | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:00 |Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|1–3 |Kaue Dudus |Decision (unanimous) |Floripa Fight 3 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|1–2 |Helio Ferreira |KO (knee) |Sul Fight Championship 2 | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:00 |Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|1–1 |Fausto Black |KO (punches) |Jaragua Fight Samurai 2 | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:00 |Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |- |Win |align=center|1–0 |Bruno Amorim |Decision (unanimous) |Floripa Fight 1 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil |

See also

• List of current WSOF fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists