Wanderlei Silva News

Chris Taylor - September 27, 2019

Mixed Martial Arts legend Wanderlei Silva is not hanging up the gloves just yet and instead has signed a deal to fight under the Bare Knuckle FC banner. The news comes from FanSided who reported earlier that the now 43-year-old ‘Axe Murderer’ has signed a deal with Bare Knuckle FC.

Tom Taylor - February 6, 2019

Wanderlei Silva, one of the most ferocious fighters in MMA history, recently admitted that he experiences many of the symptoms of brain injury. The 51-fight veteran, who has been engaging in tooth-and-nail scraps for almost three decades, made this concerning admission in an interview with Brazilian website PVT.

Tom Taylor - October 1, 2018

Last Saturday night, in the co-main event of Bellator 206, Wanderlei Silva succumbed to a volley of second-round strikes from Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. With this result, the 42-year-old Silva is now on a two-fight skid, having also given up a decision to Chael Sonnen in his Bellator debut. Apparently, however, he’s still got plenty left in the tank. Speaking on Instagram shortly after this fight, Wanderlei Silva explained that, after this exciting but ultimately disappointing fight with Rampage, he’s already looking forward to his next fight. He’s hoping that next fight happens soon, too.

Tom Taylor - September 30, 2018

Bellator 206, which went down in San Jose, California on Saturday night, was among the biggest fight cards the company has ever promoted. As it turns out, this card featured some suitably hefty paydays as well. The biggest earner of the night was former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who pocketed a significant $300,000 for his second-round TKO of his rival Wanderlei Silva. Silva, meanwhile, was the second biggest earner of the night, pocketing $200,000 in defeat.

Chris Taylor - September 29, 2018

A heavyweight bout between former mixed martial arts champions and bitter rivals Quinton Jackson and Wanderlei Silva served as the co-headliner of tonight’s Bellator 206 event in San Jose. This will mark the fourth time that “Rampage” and “The Axe Murderer” have squared off during their storied careers.

Tom Taylor - September 16, 2018

Earlier this month, news surfaced that former UFC heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum had been handed a two-year suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). This suspension stems from an out-of-competition urine test, in which Werdum tested positive for Trenbolone and its metabolite Epitrenbolone. Not long after Fabricio Werdum’s suspension came to light, his former opponent Mark Hunt, one of MMA’s most vocal steroid critics, issued a scathing reaction.

Tom Taylor - August 19, 2018

Former PRIDE champion and current Bellator MMA star Wanderlei Silva is plunging into the world of politics. On Saturday, the Brazilian MMA legend posted to Instagram, announcing that he will run for a seat in the Brazilian congress as a federal deputy. Elections will be held in October.

Drake Riggs - August 12, 2018

“The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva is arguably Japan’s biggest star when it comes to fighters who made their name in the country. The legendary Brazilian now is hoping to fight in front of a Japanese crowd once again before everything is all said and done. Silva was present at RIZIN 12 today to corner one half of the main event, Luiz Gustavo. But midway through the card, Silva found some time to head to the ring and address the crowd.

Drake Riggs - June 26, 2018

Wanderlei on Chael’s chances in the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix. pic.twitter.com/sodJqI4au0 — Bad Guy MMA (@BadGuyMMA) June 26, 2018

Tom Taylor - June 20, 2018

PRIDE legend Wanderlei Silva says he’s fighting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson under the Bellator banner on September 29. Silva shared this exciting news in a video on his official Facebook page. ”Like people say, it’s very hard for a good professional to retire,” Silva said (via MMA Fighting). “I just got a call from Bellator inviting to be part of the Sept. 29 [card] against Quinton Jackson in the main event in California. It’s our fourth bout, I won two of the first three, so it’s 2-1 for me.”

Drake Riggs - May 17, 2018

We’ve only seen the ‘Axe Murderer’, Wanderlei Silva step foot in the cage once in the last five years. That time being for when he headlined Bellator’s big Madison Square Garden show, Bellator 180 opposite his longtime rival, Chael Sonnen. ‘The American Gangster’ would go on to earn the unanimous decision victory by grinding out Silva in his usual fashion and then enter into Bellator’s heavyweight Grand Prix title tournament where he would defeat Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in the opening round.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Earlier this month, Brazil’s Gazeta Do Povo reported that Bellator is hoping to make its debut in the MMA hotbed of Brazil with a fourth fight between MMA legends Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Wanderlei Silva. This report also included some quotes from Silva, who suggested he’d like to help the promotion fill the soccer stadium Arena da Baixada in his hometown of Curitiba. “I’m going to be one of the headliners and I’m trying to put myself out there as a promoter, too,” Silva said in this report (translation via BloodyElbow). “I got the company, I got the venue, I’m in the main event. You only need to put the pieces together. You add both Pitbull brothers [Patricio Freire and Patricky Freire], who are doing well. You add our champion Rafael Carvalho and Goiti Yamauchi, who is also from Curitiba. Bellator is very interested in the Brazilian market and Curitiba would be the perfect place.”

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

A lot of talk gets thrown around about the trilogies in MMA. There have been plenty of them, with more sure to come. But what about quadrilogies? That’s right, four fights with the same rival. If Quinton Jackson had his way, he’d get another fight with legend Wanderlei Silva. The Axe Murderer took out Rampage twice with knees, before Jackson got his payback. Evidently it wasn’t enough though, because Jackson claims he still owes him an ass whooping. “I owe Wanderlei [Silva] another ass whooping, I’ll tell you that. I know he’s not a heavyweight. The last time I fought him I knocked him out of the weight class. But he beat me twice. I only beat him once. I think I owe him another ass whooping. I probably could get down to 205, but I don’t know. I’m walking around at 250, 260. That’s a big one. If I had my way [it’d be at heavyweight] but like I said, Wanderlei is not a heavyweight. I probably could get down to 205 now that I’ve got my nutritionist. My motivation is still the heavyweight belt. Even if I’m out of the tournament, whoever wins that belt I’m gonna challenge him right away.” — Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson speaking on The MMA Hour.

Tom Taylor - January 16, 2018

Back in June of 2017, PRIDE legend Wanderlei Silva came up short in his long-awaited Bellator debut, losing a decision to his nemesis Chael Sonnen. Since then, Silva fans have been wondering what – if anything – will come next for the aging legend. While nothing is certain just yet, it seems Silva himself is considering a rematch with the ostensibly retired Chuck Liddell, who he lost a close decision to back in the year 2007. Silva hinted at this possible rematch in a Tuesday post to Instagram.

bjpenndotcom - July 5, 2017

Wanderlei Silva made his return to the cage last month after a four year long hiatus that briefly saw him handed a lifetime suspension from the NSAC before then being released by the UFC, receiving a reduced suspension, and signing with Bellator MMA. When Silva stepped into the cage in the main event of Bellator 180 against Chael Sonnen, he wasn’t too thrilled with Sonnen’s gameplan for the fight. After dropping a unanimous decision to the former UFC title challenger, Silva criticized Sonnen for his lack of an exciting gameplan.

bjpenndotcom - June 29, 2017

This past weekend on the inaugural Bellator MMA pay-per view event, former Pride FC champion Wanderlei Silva stepped into the cage against former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen for a highly anticipated showdown four years in the making. The pair coached opposite against one another on TUF Brazil, and were scheduled to fight in 2013. Silva refused to submit the proper paperwork for licensing, before then refusing to take a drug test. Subsequently, ‘The Axe Murderer’ was pulled from the event. Interestingly enough, after the UFC tapped Vitor Belfort to step in for Wanderlei Silva, Sonnen was pulled from the fight for failing a drug test.

bjpenndotcom - June 27, 2017

This past Saturday in New York, Bellator MMA held their first pay-per view event, which featured a number of high-profile fights. In the main event, former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen stepped into the cage against longtime rival, former Pride FC champion Wanderlei Silva, for a highly anticipated showdown four years in the making. When the two met in the cage, it was Sonnen who dominated the fight, repeatedly taking Silva down throughout the course of the three round affair. With that being said, while Silva may have had no answer to Sonnen’s takedowns, Silva did manage to tag Sonnen behind the ear early on in the fight, momentarily causing Sonnen’s legs to give out. Despite that, Sonnen was able to continuously control the fight, earning himself a unanimous decision win.

Chris Taylor - June 25, 2017

Wanderlei Silva releases a statement following loss to Chael Sonnen Mixed martial arts legend Wanderlei Silva returned to the cage for the first time in four years last night at Madison Square Garden where he took on bitter rival Chael Sonnen in the evenings main event.