The fallout to a post-fight brawl that left a 49-year-old MMA legend out cold continues.
Wanderlei Silva made his return to combat sports action in controversial fashion on Saturday, as he headlined the second Spaten Fight Night in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Pride and UFC legend had not competed since Bellator 206 in 2018, where ‘The Axe Murderer’ was finished by ‘Rampage’ Jackson. While it appeared that his career was over, especially after Silva made worrying remarks about brain injuries in a letter supporting the UFC antitrust settlement last year, he was back after seven years.
Most are wishing that the Brazilian had not returned given what unfolded in his exhibition match against Acelino Freitas. After being disqualified for repeatedly head-butting the former two-time boxing champion, a crazy post-fight brawl saw Freitas’ son knock Silva out cold.
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Fabricio Werdum describes wild scenes that led to Wanderlei Silva’s scary knockout
Part of Silva’s team on the night was Fabricio Werdum, a former UFC heavyweight champion who is widely regarded as one of the division’s greatest of all time.
The Brazilian was among those entering the ring to defend ‘The Axe Murderer’, and footage showed him unloading combinations on some of those in Freitas’ team.
Giving his version of events on social media, ‘Vai Cavalo’ insisted he was only reacting to aggression from the other side. He also slammed Freitas’ son for his brutal attack on Silva, describing it as “evil.”
“The images don’t lie,” Werdum said (translated by MMA Fighting). “Everybody saw what happened. We entered the ring when it was all over and Wanderlei was disqualified, and a lot of people entered from Popo’s side.
“I think it was 20 of them, and only me, Wanderlei, Thor and Dida, and we were reacting to their attacks, you know? They started screaming and coming at us, and we were in four.
“It was so evil for that guy to punch Wanderlei,” Werdum continued. “He (first) punched the back of the head of Wanderlei. I don’t know if it landed clean, but it could have been something very serious.
“Wanderlei is here in the hospital now, getting stitched up, it broke Wanderlei’s nose, because he was very mean. Wanderlei had his gloves on, tired from the fight.”
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Acelino Freitas blamed Fabricio Werdum for the brawl that KO’d Wanderlei Silva
Silva’s opponent on the night, though, has a different recollection.
While the former UFC champion said he was responding to attacks from the opposition team after entering the ring, Freitas accused Werdum of sparking the brawl.
“I don’t know what the hell these guys put Werdum in this event for,” Freitas told fans in Portuguese during a video posted to Instagram. “This guy only messes up at other people’s events.
“Werdum, I’m ashamed, man. If I were you, I’d be ashamed, okay? I’m ashamed. You’re the one who came at me. There’s a video of you on top of me, trying to beat me up, man. But God knows what He’s doing,” he added.