Introduction
Pedro Augusto Rizzo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpedɾu ˈʁizu]; born May 3, 1974) is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist, kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter who competed for the UFC, PRIDE, M-1 Global, and Affliction. Although he never captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship, Rizzo competed for it three times and was regarded as a top contender for many years. Coming from a Vale Tudo background, Rizzo is regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA history. Rizzo holds notable victories over former UFC champions Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez and Ken Shamrock.
Mixed martial arts career
Early in his career Rizzo has adopted brutal leg kicks from Amsterdam-based Chakuriki gym where he developed strong stand up style and used this to great effect in the cage. Rizzo is a talented and feared striker in mixed martial arts.
Rizzo is a former World Vale Tudo Championship (WVC) Heavyweight Champion and former contender for the UFC heavyweight belt. A stint in PRIDE FC did not go too well for the former UFC Heavyweight title contender, and Rizzo suffered quick losses at the hands of Sergei Kharitonov and Roman Zentsov.
Rizzo returned to his winning ways on March 9, 2007, when he beat UFC veteran Justin Eilers by unanimous decision at the début show of Art of War Undisputed Arena Fighting Championship, which was held in Dallas, Texas.
He defeated Jeff Monson on September 1, 2007. This fight took place on the first pay-per-view event promoted by the Art of War Undisputed Arena Fighting Championship organization. Rizzo was defeated at Affliction: Banned by Josh Barnett, via knockout in round 2.
He was defeated by Gilbert Yvel at Ultimate Chaos: Lashley vs. Sapp via knockout in round 1. In his rematch with Jeff Monson, Rizzo won a decision at Bitetti Combat. He revealed in the post-fight interview that he had an elbow problem 10 days before the fight and that was why he could not push for the knockout that "the Brazilian fans deserved".
Rizzo also won his last two fights, against Gary Goodridge at Washington Combat and against eventual UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock at Impact Fighting Championships in Australia.
He was expected to face former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia on August 14 at War on the Mainland but it was discovered that Sylvia broke his foot in his fight with Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Rizzo was expected to be the main event against Tim Sylvia at ProElite 2 in November, However he pulled out of the bout due to an injury.
On June 21, 2012, Rizzo faced former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, at M-1 Global ring in St. Petersburg, Russia. Rizzo got caught by a right hand from Fedor that knocked him down; Fedor then proceeded with punches that left Rizzo motionless at 1:24 of the first round.
On May 26, 2013, Pedro faced Japanese heavyweight Satoshi Ishii at IGF: GENOME 26. He lost via unanimous decision.
On September 12, 2015, Pedro returned to face Andrew Flores at Face to Face 12. He won via leg kicks, forcing Flores to quit in between rounds, and Rizzo announced his retirement shortly after the fight.
Personal life
Rizzo has a daughter.
Championships and accomplishments
- Art of War Undisputed Arena Fighting Championship
- IFA Heavyweight Championship (1 Time)
- World Vale Tudo Championship
- WVC Superfight Championship (1 Time)
- WVC 2 Tournament Winner
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Fight of the Year (2001) vs. Randy Couture on May 4
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 31 matches | 20 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 7 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20-11 | Andrew Flores Smith | TKO (Leg Kicks) | Face to Face 12 | 000000002015-09-12-0000September 12, 2015 | 1 | 5:00 | Espirito Santo, Brazil | |
| Loss | 19-11 | Satoshi Ishii | Decision (Unanimous) | IGF - Genome 26 | 000000002013-05-26-0000May 26, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 19-10 | Fedor Emelianenko | KO (punches) | M-1 Global | 000000002012-06-21-0000June 21, 2012 | 1 | 1:24 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 19-9 | Ken Shamrock | TKO (leg kicks & punches) | Impact FC 2 | 000000002010-07-18-0000July 18, 2010 | 1 | 3:33 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 18-9 | Gary Goodridge | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Washington Combat: Battle of the Legends | 000000002010-05-15-0000May 15, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Washington D.C. United States | |
| Win | 17-9 | Jeff Monson | Decision (unanimous) | Bitetti Combat MMA 4 | 000000002009-09-12-0000Sep 12, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 16-9 | Gilbert Yvel | KO (punches) | Ultimate Chaos: Lashley vs. Sapp | 000000002009-06-27-0000Jun 27, 2009 | 1 | 2:10 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |
| Loss | 16-8 | Josh Barnett | KO (punch) | Affliction: Banned | 000000002008-07-19-0000Jul 19, 2008 | 2 | 1:44 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 16-7 | Jeff Monson | TKO (punches) | Art of War 3 | 000000002007-09-01-0000September 1, 2007 | 3 | 2:40 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Defended IFA Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 15-7 | Justin Eilers | Decision (unanimous) | Art of War 1 | 000000002007-03-09-0000March 9, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Won vacant IFA Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 14-7 | Roman Zentsov | KO (Punch) | PRIDE 31 | 000000002006-02-26-0000February 26, 2006 | 1 | 0:25 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 14-6 | Sergei Kharitonov | TKO (soccer kick & punches) | PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 | 000000002005-06-26-0000June 26, 2005 | 1 | 2:02 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 14-5 | Ricco Rodriguez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 45 | 000000002003-11-21-0000November 21, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 13-5 | Tra Telligman | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 43 | 000000002003-06-06-0000June 6, 2003 | 2 | 4:24 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12-5 | Vladimir Matyushenko | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 41 | 000000002003-02-28-0000February 28, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 12-4 | Gan McGee | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 39 | 000000002002-09-27-0000September 27, 2002 | 1 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 12-3 | Andrei Arlovski | KO (punches) | UFC 36 | 000000002002-03-22-0000March 22, 2002 | 3 | 1:45 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11-3 | Randy Couture | TKO (punches) | UFC 34 | 000000002001-11-02-0000November 2, 2001 | 3 | 1:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11-2 | Randy Couture | Decision (split) | UFC 31 | 000000002001-05-04-0000May 4, 2001 | 5 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | For the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Fight of the Year (2001). |
| Win | 11–1 | Josh Barnett | KO (punch) | UFC 30 | 000000002001-02-23-0000February 23, 2001 | 2 | 4:21 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Dan Severn | Submission (leg kicks) | UFC 27 | 000000002000-09-22-0000September 22, 2000 | 1 | 1:33 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Kevin Randleman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 26 | 000000002000-06-09-0000June 9, 2000 | 5 | 5:00 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | For UFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (punches) | UFC 23 | 000000001999-11-19-0000November 19, 1999 | 3 | 1:12 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 8–0 | Tra Telligman | KO (punch) | UFC 20 | 000000001999-05-07-0000May 7, 1999 | 1 | 4:30 | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Mark Coleman | Decision (split) | UFC 18 | 000000001999-01-08-0000January 8, 1999 | 1 | 15:00 | Kenner, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | David Abbott | KO (punch) | UFC Brazil | 000000001998-10-16-0000October 16, 1998 | 1 | 8:07 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Richard Heard | Submission (punishment) | World Vale Tudo Championship 3 | 000000001997-01-19-0000January 19, 1997 | 1 | 13:12 | Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Vernon White | KO (soccer kick) | World Vale Tudo Championship 2 | 000000001996-11-10-0000November 10, 1996 | 1 | 6:30 | Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Michael Tielrooy | Submission (keylock) | World Vale Tudo Championship 2 | 000000001996-11-10-0000November 10, 1996 | 1 | 0:18 | Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Niccolaus Niccolaus | Submission (punches) | World Vale Tudo Championship 2 | 000000001996-11-10-0000November 10, 1996 | 1 | 1:49 | Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Eric Labaille | TKO (punches) | IMA: Battle of Styles | 000000001996-10-26-0000October 26, 1996 | 1 | 2:57 | Netherlands |
Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
| Kickboxing Record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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31 Win (30 (T)KO, 0 decisions), 2 Losses, 1 Draw
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |
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