UFC Hall of Famer Wanderlei Silva is grappling with severe health issues following a brutal knockout during a chaotic post-fight brawl. The incident occurred after his exhibition bout at Spaten Fight Night 2 in São Paulo, Brazil, where he faced former two-time world boxing champion Acelino Freitas. This marked Silva`s return to the ring after a seven-year hiatus, his last professional fight being a KO loss to Quinton `Rampage` Jackson in September 2018.
The exhibition match on Saturday night quickly spiraled into disorder. `The Axe Murderer` was disqualified in the fourth round for repeatedly using headbutts against his opponent. Following the disqualification, a massive melee erupted, during which Silva was brutally knocked unconscious.
Silva`s 3:30 AM Health Update
On Sunday, the 49-year-old MMA icon broke his silence, reporting a persistent headache that wouldn`t subside. He later provided a worrying update at 3:30 AM via his Instagram story.
“Yeah, my situation really isn’t good,” Silva shared, revealing his injured eye. “It’s half past three in the morning now. I can’t sleep because my head is throbbing too much. I’ll have to go to the hospital for some more tests.”
Identity of the Assailant Revealed
Initially, the identity of the individual who delivered the knockout blow to Wanderlei Silva during the post-fight chaos remained unclear, with early fan footage showing a person in a tuxedo. However, subsequent images and reports from Combate swiftly identified the assailant as Rafael Freitas, the son of Silva`s opponent, Acelino Freitas. Rafael reportedly has a background in boxing.
Since the incident, Rafael Freitas has deactivated his Instagram account. This came after his brother, Juan Freitas, had tagged him in a now-deleted Instagram story with a caption, translated from Portuguese, stating: “When you’re going to talk about my brother, speak softly. Congratulations, Rafa!”
While Silva`s opponent, Acelino Freitas, has issued an apology for the post-fight brawl, he has not yet publicly acknowledged his son`s direct involvement in the widely circulated knockout.
