One UFC fighter thinks damage has been done to Brazil’s combat sports scene after a wild brawl Saturday night.
Wanderlei Silva made a controversial return to combat sports on September 27, as he competed in an exhibition boxing match seven years on from his last outing in mixed martial arts.
The Pride and UFC legend fought Acelino Freitas, a two-time Brazilian boxing champion, at Spaten Fight Night 2. Heavy backlash followed the bout’s announcement earlier this year, with few wanting to see the 49-year-old Silva back in action.
And their worst nightmares of a scary moment were realized, but not during the fight itself.
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Caio Borralho frustrated with Spaten Fight Night brawl after Wanderlei Silva was disqualified
Wanderlei Silva ended up being knocked out cold at the event, but that came courtesy of his opponent’s son in a post-fight brawl. ‘The Axe Murderer’ was disqualified for repeatedly head-butting Freitas, and both teams flooded the ring and traded punches following the controversial conclusion.
The melee was eventually stopped as medical personnel tended to the unconscious Silva, but the fallout has since seen all parties come under heavy scrutiny.
Among those criticizing what unfolded at ARCA Spaces in Sao Paulo is UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho. The Fighting Nerds standout slammed those involved, suggesting the brawl will have long-lasting effects on the perception of combat sports in the country.
“All this time the sport fighting for people to see us as decent and civilized beings for this?” Borralho wrote on X.
“Imagine now being a fighter and wanting sponsorship from a big brand in Brazil and them having this embarrassment from today as a reference??? The athletes lose a lot with this,” he added.
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Wanderlei Silva’s manager gives positive health update
Despite a scary scene in the ring as security got the brawl under control, a positive update was provided about Silva’s condition.
A report from Combate quotes Silva’s manager as saying the Pride legend was taken to hospital “as a precaution,” where CT scans of his head and cervical spine showed no significant damage.
Silva’s positive health update came as good news after the brutal nature of the KO punch, which left ‘The Axe Murderer’ bruised and bleeding profusely, so much so that three towels were needed to clean the bloody canvas.
But while the Brazilian may not have sustained any immediate serious damage from the blow, the knockout came just a year after Silva revealed worrying symptoms of brain trauma in a letter supporting the UFC antitrust settlement.