Haim Gozali

Haim Gozali (חיים גוזלי; born May 6, 1973), also known by the nickname Batman, is a retired Israeli mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight division. He is best known for his tenure in the Bellator. Gozali is also a 4th degree Jiu Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie.

Background
Gozali served as a Military Police soldier in the Israeli army. Later, Gozali claimed he was stabbed six times while working as a bouncer and a promoter in an Israeli strip club, claims that were debunked by an investigation led by the Israeli journalist Haim Etgar.

Gozali's self-given fighting nickname, Batman, comes from his obsession with the superhero. He has "collected enough Batman comics and paraphernalia to fill up a 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 has one son, Aviv, who is also a mixed martial artist and is currently signed to Bellator.

Mixed martial arts career
In 2010, Gozali produced the MMA event Israel FC: Genesis in Israel, that featured multiple UFC veterans. Following the event's success, he later signed with Bellator MMA to work as a promoter and produced 3 events in Israel with the promotion - Bellator 164, Bellator 188 and Bellator 209, which took place at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.

Gozali is the president of ADCC Israel and the first Israeli to compete in an ADCC event. Gozali is also the head of Renzo Gracie Israel Academy in Bat Yam.

Gozali is the first Israeli MMA fighter to compete in Madison Square Garden.

On November 16, 2017 Gozali scored the second fastest submission in Bellator's Welterweight division, ending the fight 45 seconds into the first round.

Bellator MMA
Gozali faced Ryan Couture in a welterweight bout at Bellator 180 on June 24, 2017. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

After racking three straight victories, Gozali was scheduled to appear on the same event, Bellator MMA in 2019, with his son Aviv in their native Israel. Haim faced Artur Pronin and won the fight via first-round submission. Haim retired after the fight.