UFC legend Wanderlei Silva has shown off his serious facial injuries after being knocked out in a huge brawl on Saturday.
Silva, 49, took on boxing world champion Acelino Freitas in Sao Paulo, Brazil at Spaten Fight Night 2.
Wanderlei Silva was knocked out in a brawl after his fight with Brazilian boxer Acelino Freitas on Saturday.[/caption]
He has now shared images of the horror injuries sustained.[/caption]
Silva was disqualified for two head butts.[/caption]
Both fighters’ camps entered the ring as tempers flared.[/caption]
The UFC icon was left unconscious in the ring after being hit.[/caption]
He was disqualified after landing two head butts on his opponent that were better placed on the MMA stage than at a boxing event.
A mass fight followed with Freitas’ team entering the ring and a mad scramble of punches being thrown.
Silva was at the centre of much of it and took one fist to the face, landing out cold on his back on the floor.
Now, taking to Instagram to send an update to fans, The Axe Murderer has recorded a video with graphic images of his heavily swollen and beaten up face.
He wrote: “Thank you all very much for your messages, I’m not feeling very well, very dizzy and have a headache that won’t go away.
“This week I’ll do more detailed tests to find out if I had any more serious trauma to my head.”
In the video, Silva can be seen with severe bruising around his right eye, which cannot be opened such is the damage.
He also has a cut with dried blood on the side of his nose.
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In a separate statement released on Instagram, Silva added: “Yesterday, in my fight against Popo, I received several warnings during the fight and, in the 4th round, I ended up being disqualified.
“Subsequently, there was widespread confusion in the ring.
“At that moment, while I was simply trying to protect my son and calm the situation, I was cowardly hit, which led to me needing medical attention.
“I want to reassure everyone: I’m fine and remain under medical supervision. [prayer hands emoji]
“I want to immensely thank the event organizers, especially the Spaten team, for their prompt care, kindness, and attention.
“I also want to express my gratitude to the fans and my team for their dedication, and especially to the audience who attended and witnessed this moment.
“My story has always been one of struggle, discipline, and dedication—and that’s how I will continue.”
Silva is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time after some unforgettable bouts with the likes of Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell.
The iconic fighter won 35 of his 51 fights, losing 14 along the way, with one fight a draw and one ruled a no contest.
