User blog comment:HelloFalman/Ankhseram Magic Inablity/@comment-31.132.65.53-20150807101241/@comment-31.132.65.53-20150807183206

1. He did lose to Ultear, it's even stated on this wikia. Zeref also attacked first.

2. Zeref never was sealed or asleep. He was in a state when he had no control over his power due to Ankhseram contradictory curse.