ABOUT

Record: 17-4-1-1
Age: 27
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 155 lbs
Fighting out of: COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA
Style: Wrestling, Jiujitsu

JZ Cavalcante’s Bio

TRAINING: I train six days a week. I start my day training at 10am with two group classes. Every day is different; sometimes we do strength and conditioning, jiu-jitsu or striking – it depends on what day of the week it is. Then I go back to the gym at 5pm and train again, but with just two or three guys, and we focus on the fighting; sometimes we spar or we practice strategy and techniques.

Thoughts on opponent, Justin Wilcox?

He’s a tough guy, he comes forward and he is strong, as he was a bodybuilder and a wrestler. He is coming off a string of wins, but I’m going to stop that.

When and why did you start training for fighting?

I started training at four years old in Judo. I was an active kid, and even when I was young I was watching martial arts movies and messing around fighting with other kids. My mother saw how much energy I had and put me in Judo for the discipline and because she thought that I would be good in fighting. She saw that I had the fight in me.

What ranks and titles have you held?

Two-time K1 heroes Tournament Champion, and Shooto American Champion

Do you have any heroes?
God and my parents

What does it mean for you to fight in STRIKEFORCE?

For me and for my career, Strikeforce is a great opportunity for me to show my skills and to show everyone what I’m capable of. For me this is a chance to show everyone that I am even better than the fighter I was in Japan.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn?

No

What was your job before you started fighting?

Fighting

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition?

I fought two times in Shooto Brazil

Ranks in any martial arts styles:

I’m a black belt in muito livre and a brown belt in jiu-jitsu

Favorite grappling technique:

Guillotine

Favorite Striking technique:

Anything that hurts

What do you consider to be the key fight in your career, and why?

When I fought Joachim Hansen – he was very tough and already the champion back in Japan. I took the fight on short notice, and I was so young at the time that it was a real challenge for me. Everyone thought that I won the fight, but they gave him the decision. It was an early fight in the beginning of my career, and to go the distance and almost win gave me a lot of confidence.