Wanderlei Silva ended up with a disfigured face after being treacherously attacked in a brawl in the ring.
The fighter was brutally knocked out in a wild brawl after his exhibition fight.
Wanderlei Silva ends up with a disfigured face after being treacherously attacked in a brawl in the ring
Wanderlei Silva’s return to combat sports turned into a nightmare, leaving him with a fractured nose, stitches and a bruised face after a wild post-fight brawl in Sao Paulo. The long-awaited return of Wanderlei Silva to combat sports ended in disaster in Sao Paulo
The UFC legend was disqualified in the fourth round of his exhibition boxing debut against former two-division world champion Acelino Freitas. At 49 years of age, Wanderlei Silva looked rusty and outclassed from the opening bell. Acelino Freitas, who retired in 2017 with a record of 41-2 (34 KOs), had no trouble setting the pace of the fight. The fight ended abruptly when Wanderlei Silva ignored the referee’s warnings and headbutted Freitas, a move that cost him victory.
The brawl after the fight
The disqualification was just the beginning. Moments later, both teams stormed into the ring, and what began as a heated exchange escalated into an all-out brawl. Wanderlei Silva took a heavy blow to the back of the head. A powerful right hook knocked him unconscious. His team rushed to get him to safety as punches flew around the ring.
Brazilian media later identified the attacker as Rafael Freitas, the son of the former champion. Wanderlei Silva’s cornerman and former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum revealed that the legend suffered a fractured nose and required stitches to his face. He was taken to a local hospital but was later released after treatment. The violent aftermath overshadowed what was supposed to be Wanderlei Silva’s comeback: Instead of a triumphant return, Wanderlei Silva’s night ended with bruises, stitches and a reminder of how unforgiving the fighting world can be.
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