Garage Doors and Parts – Wanderlei Silva returned to the ring for what was supposed to be a friendly exhibition match. At 49 years old, the former MMA superstar laced up his gloves once again on home soil in Brazil. The fight, held under the Spaten Fight League banner, was initially set to be against fellow UFC Hall of Famer Vitor Belfort. However, Belfort withdrew due to injury, and Silva was instead matched against former boxing world champion Acelino Freitas. Despite Silva weighing in 44 pounds heavier, the fight quickly turned chaotic and ultimately led to Silva being brutally knocked out in the middle of a post-fight melee. What began as a celebratory moment for fans devolved into one of the most shocking scenes in recent combat sports history.
Wanderlei Silva started the bout with intensity but soon found himself outboxed by Freitas. The first two rounds saw Silva repeatedly hit with clean punches. Frustration appeared to boil over in Round 3 when Silva shoved Freitas to the canvas. That action ignited a string of unsportsmanlike conduct. As the fourth round commenced, Silva committed several fouls, including multiple head-butts. Referee intervention became necessary, and Silva was penalized by having points deducted on three separate occasions. Eventually, he was disqualified for failing to maintain sportsmanship and escalating the chaos inside the ring. Wanderlei Silva, once feared for his calculated aggression, became the center of controversy during a match that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
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The disqualification of Wanderlei Silva was not the end of the drama. Following the referee’s call, tempers flared and chaos erupted inside the ring. Members of both camps stormed the canvas, leading to a full-blown brawl. Among those involved was former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum. Video footage from the scene shows Silva caught in the middle of the melee. In a shocking moment, Silva was struck by a stray punch from a man dressed in a tuxedo. The impact knocked him out cold and sent his head crashing against the floor. What was meant to be a nostalgic night for fans of Silva ended in medical concern and social media frenzy. The viral clip spread rapidly, raising questions about fighter safety and regulation in exhibition matches.
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Known globally as the Ax Murderer, Wanderlei Silva has been one of the most iconic figures in MMA history. During his reign in Pride Fighting Championships in the 2000s, he became a symbol of raw power and relentless striking. Silva amassed a career MMA record of 35 wins, 14 losses, and 1 no contest. However, the latter part of his career was plagued by defeats, including several knockout losses. He last competed in MMA in 2018 under the Bellator promotion. Despite a long list of injuries and surgeries, including operations on his knees, face, and elbow, Silva remained committed to the sport. His return to boxing at 49 raised concerns, especially in light of his admitted symptoms related to traumatic brain injury and CTE.
Prior to the bout, Wanderlei Silva had dismissed health concerns and insisted he passed all medical exams. He even lost over 20 pounds in preparation. However, the knockout and chaotic scenes renewed discussions around aging athletes in combat sports. Silva had previously written about suffering from depression, sleep apnea, mood swings, and irritability. He suspected these symptoms were linked to brain trauma from his fighting career. Critics have pointed to the dangers of allowing older fighters to participate in even non-competitive matches. Meanwhile, Freitas had been active in Brazil’s influencer boxing scene and entered the ring with momentum and experience. Public reaction has been mixed, with some fans expressing admiration for Silva’s courage, while others criticized the event’s handling and lack of proper control.
This article is sourced from sports.yahoo.com and for more details you can read at garage-doors-and-parts.org
Writer: Sarah Azhari
Editor: Anisa
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