Fight Archives: Wanderlei Silva leaves opponent helpless with barrage of knees in Vale Tudo event

A few weeks ago, UFC veteran and ex-Strikeforce champ Josh Thomson spoke about his 2015 fight with Tony Ferguson and how it “changed” both…

By: Milan Ordoñez | 2 years ago
Fight Archives: Wanderlei Silva leaves opponent helpless with barrage of knees in Vale Tudo event
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A few weeks ago, UFC veteran and ex-Strikeforce champ Josh Thomson spoke about his 2015 fight with Tony Ferguson and how it “changed” both his life and career. It was a sobering revelation about the crude and barbarous realities of prizefighting, which are usually concealed by the glitz and romanticism of potential superstardom.

I was never thrown in at the deep end like that, but I figure that it must be a similar experience when you fought Wanderlei Silva back in the day. Especially during his peak as “The Axe Murderer,” you likely went home with a concussion, at best and a soul filled with trauma, at worst. Either way, it’s a beating that’ll stick to you forever.

Just take a look at his Meca Vale Tudo fight with Todd “El Tiburon” Medina in 2000. All Silva needed was 39 seconds to get the job done. He threw a high kick, followed up with half a one-two, got the Thai clinch, and went to town with crippling knee strikes.

To say you went out on your shield is one thing. But to be in a one-sided thrashing where you’re rendered helpless, vulnerable, and susceptible to terrifying damage… yeesh.

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Milan Ordoñez
Milan Ordoñez

Milan Ordoñez has been covering combat sports since 2012 and has been part of the Bloody Elbow staff since 2016. He’s also competed in amateur mixed martial arts and submission grappling tournaments.

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