Wanderlei Silva’s Health Issues Under Scrutiny After Post-Fight Brawl Knockout

Concerns about Wanderlei Silva`s health, voiced a year prior, have resurfaced following a chaotic end to his return to combat.

Silva`s highly anticipated return after a seven-year hiatus concluded unexpectedly. The 49-year-old Pride and UFC icon, who last fought at Bellator 206 in 2018, faced a contentious comeback.

His previous fighting stint saw significant challenges, notably a knockout loss to `Rampage` Jackson, which many thought would be the end of his career. This marked his ninth defeat in 13 bouts, a period characterized by several brutal knockouts.

Such a grueling career seemingly left `The Axe Murderer` grappling with serious health issues common to long-term fighters. Despite these known concerns, Silva`s return was sanctioned, leading to an unfortunate and violent conclusion on Saturday.

Wanderlei Silva`s Revelations on Severe Health Issues

Wanderlei Silva`s latest appearance was at Spaten Fight Night 2 on September 27, where he competed against former two-division Brazilian boxing champion Acelino Freitas. This exhibition followed a similar event last year featuring Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen.

Unlike the previous event, which saw a somewhat anticlimactic draw between the two UFC legends, the recent Spaten Fight Night 2 concluded with intense drama.

Following controversial actions from the Pride legend, Silva was disqualified for repeatedly head-butting Freitas. This ignited a furious ring invasion by both teams, escalating into a full-scale brawl that reportedly involved former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum.

In the ensuing chaos, Silva suffered a brutal knockout at the hands of an unidentified man in a tuxedo. The disturbing sight of the Brazilian fighter being dragged unconscious from the ring has brought his previous health statements from 2024 back into public discussion.

During his petition for the approval of the UFC antitrust settlement, Silva had openly discussed severe health issues, including symptoms indicative of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Silva stated, “I am concerned that my career has led to traumatic brain injury (TBI), and I am experiencing common TBI and CTE symptoms such as depression, mood fluctuations, and heightened irritability.”

He also detailed, “I struggle with sleep apnea, leading to difficulties in sleeping and breathing. To my recollection, I’ve undergone four nasal surgeries, one facial surgery, two on my left knee, one on my right knee, and one on my elbow.”

Although Silva later issued a positive update from the hospital following Saturday`s incident, this has done little to alleviate concerns about him being cleared to fight at 49, given his publicly acknowledged health conditions.

Dana White`s Reaction to Wanderlei Silva`s Comeback

Initially, Silva’s return was planned for MMA under the Global Fight League, a team-focused promotion that attracted many high-profile fighters but ultimately dissolved without hosting any events.

Other notable fighters on its roster included Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Paige VanZant, Alexander Gustafsson, and Frank Mir.

During a December 2024 press conference, Dana White commented on Silva`s comeback plans with skepticism, stating, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

It`s probable that the UFC president, along with many others, would have preferred not to witness the unsettling footage of Silva`s knockout during the Spaten Fight Night altercation.