Danilo Zanolini

Danilo Zanolini (29 July 1980) is a Brazilian kickboxer, competing in the welterweight divisions of RISE and Rizin FF. He is the former RISE Welterweight, HEAT Middleweight and ISKA Super Welterweight World K-1 champion.

Kickboxing career

Early career

Zanolini fought Fapicart RS Promotion for the vacant HEAT Kick Middleweight title at HEAT 13 on March 14, 2010, and successfully won the title by a second-round knockout. He defended his title a grand total of four times, before being scheduled to fight for the inaugural RISE welterweight belt.

HEAT and RISE champion

Title reign

Zanolini was scheduled to face Taiki Watanabe for the inaugural RISE Welterweight title at RISE 96 on November 4, 2013. He won the closely contested affair by majority decision, with two of the three judges awarding him a 48-47 scorecard.

Zanolini made his fifth HEAT Kick middleweight title defense against Ok Dong-ju at HEAT 31 on April 19, 2014. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Zanolini made his first RISE Welterweight title defense against Yuichiro Nagashima at RISE 100～BLADE 0～ on July 12, 2014. Zanolini won the fight by disqualification, as an illegal move broke his ribs and left him unable to continue fighting.

Zanolini was scheduled to face Maki Hinrekkufai at HEAT 33 on September 7, 2014. He won the fight by an extra round decision. Zanolini was afterwards scheduled to face Chuchai Hadesworkoutgym at HOOST CUP KINGSWEST ~ Jin of Naniwa ~ on November 16, 2014. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Zanolini's ten fight winning streak was stopped by Kenta Yamada at HOOST CUP FOREVER ~ Kick, forever! ~ on December 27, 2014, who beat him by split decision, after an extra round was fought.

Zanolini made his sixth HEAT Kick middleweight title defense against Baek Man-sung at HEAT 35 on March 22, 2015. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Zanolini rematched Kenta Yamada at RISE 106 on July 24, 2015, in a RISE Welterweight title defense. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50-47, 50-47 and 50-45.

Zanolini challenged Philippe Salmon for the ISKA World Super Welterweight K-1 title at HEAT 36 on November 29, 2015. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, stopping Salmon with a right straight at the 2:42 minute mark.

Later career

Zanolini made his promotional debut with Rizin at their inaugural event on April 17, 2016, against Norihisa Amimoto. He won the fight by technical knockout, having knocked Amimoto down thrice in the first round.

Zanolini was scheduled to face Gu Hui at Kunlun Fight 49 / Rebels 45 on August 7, 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Zanolini was scheduled to fight Chuchai Hadesworkoutgym in the quarterfinals of the HOOST CUP 70 kg tournament, held at HOOST CUP KINGS OSAKA on October 2, 2016. He lost the closely contested bout by majority decision, with scores of 30-29, 29-29 and 30-29.

Zanolini participated in the 2017 Kunlun Fight welterweight qualification tournament, which was held at Kunlun Fight 57 on February 26, 2017. Although he was able to beat Hua Xu by majority decision in the semifinals, he lost to Mohamed Mezouari in the finals. Mezouari needed just 21 seconds to knock him out with a body kick.

Zanolini was scheduled to face Lee Jang Gyu at STAND FIGHTING NETWORK K-ING and HOOST CUP NAGOYA on May 28, 2017. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, flooring his opponent with a right hook. The knockout was preceded by a knockdown, which Zanolini scored with a left hook.

He was scheduled to make his eight and final title defense against Li Ji Hoon at HEAT 40 on July 15, 2017. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50-43, 50-47 and 50-48. He announced his retirement from the sport in the post-fight interview.

Return from retirement

It was revealed on July 5, 2018, that Zanolini would come out of retirement to face Go Woo Yong at HEAT 43 on September 17, 2018. A month prior, on June 18, a fire broke out in Zanolini's Brazil-based gym, which almost completely destroyed it. This event forced him to return to competition, in order to repay the rebuilding of his gym, as he was uninsured. Zanolini won the fight by a second-round knockout.

Zanolini was scheduled to face John Wayne Parr at RIZIN 18 on August 18, 2019. He won the fight by split decision.

Zanolini was scheduled to face Katsuya Jinbo at K-1 World GP 2022 Japan on February 27, 2022. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Zanolini faced the former KROSS×OVER cruiserweight champion Park Yohan in a 75 kg bout at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11, 2022. He won the fight by majority decision.

Zanolini faced Hasan Toy in the quarterfinals of the first-ever K-1 Middleweight Grand Prix, held to crown the inaugural middleweight champion, on June 3, 2023. He lost the fight by a first-round technical knockout, after twice being knocked down by the midway point of the opening round.

Championships and accomplishments

• HEAT HEAT Kick Middleweight Championship Eight successful title defenses
• RISE RISE Welterweight World Championship Two successful title defenses
• ISKA ISKA World Super Welterweight K-1 Championship
• HOOST CUP HOOST CUP Japan Middleweight Championship

Kickboxing record

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of male kickboxers