‘Knocked out cold by a man wearing a tuxedo’: Pros react to Wanderlei Silva getting slept in Spaten Fight Night 2 brawl
SÃO PAULO, Brazil – A boxing match between Wanderlei Silva and Acelino Freitas at Spaten Fight Night 2 on Saturday night devolved into a chaotic brawl, culminating in Silva being knocked unconscious by a member of Freitas’ team. The incident has sparked widespread criticism from MMA professionals concerned about the image of combat sports in Brazil.
Silva, a veteran of UFC and PRIDE, was competing in his first combat sports bout since a second-round knockout loss to Rampage Jackson at Bellator 260 on September 2018. The boxing match saw Silva penalized three points for repeated fouls, ultimately leading to his disqualification.
Though, the disqualification was only the beginning of the night’s turmoil. A physical altercation erupted between the two teams immediately following the stoppage, and video footage circulating online shows a man in a tuxedo delivering a knockout blow to the already-disqualified Silva. Despite a nearly 50-pound weight advantage,Silva appeared outmatched throughout the fight.
the shocking scene drew immediate reaction from the MMA community. Brazilian fighter Iago Borralho expressed his dismay, stating in Portuguese, “After fighting for so long for people to see us as decent and civilized human beings, for that… Imagine being a fighter now and wanting a sponsorship deal from a big brand in Brazil, and them having this embarrassing moment as reference? Athletes lose a lot with this.”
The Spaten Fight Night 2 event, the sophomore offering from the promotion, is now being widely discussed for all the wrong reasons, raising questions about security and sportsmanship.
