Wanderlei Silva knocked out in wild post-fight boxing brawl

Wanderlei Silva’s return to the ring ended abruptly after he got himself disqualified — but his night was just getting started.

The UFC Hall of Famer was knocked unconscious during a post-fight brawl after his exhibition boxing match against former two-division world champ Acelino Freitas on Saturday night in São Paulo, Brazil.

Silva suffered a fractured nose from the strike and received facial stitches at a local hospital, his cornerman and former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum revealed on social media.

The brawl punctuated Silva’s boxing debut and first fight since getting finished by Rampage Jackson at Bellator 206 in 2018.

He failed to shake off the ring rust, getting completely outclassed by Freitas at Spaten Fight Night 2.

Silva, 49, was disqualified in the fourth round after he ignored referee instructions and proceeded to ram his head into the skull of Freitas, who hung up his gloves in 2017 with a record of 41-2 with 34 knockouts. 

With both teams in the ring, tempers flared and punches started flying.

Silva received a brutal haymaker to the back of his head from Freitas’ team member and then caught a stern right hook that sent him careening to the canvas.

Two members from Silva’s camp dragged his motionless body to the corner while the skirmish persisted.

Brazilian media identified his attacker as Freitas’ son, Rafael Freitas.

Silva ultimately regained consciousness, able to walk out of the ring and onto stretcher. He was released from the hospital after receiving treatment.

An MMA Icon, “The Axe Murderer” was a face of PRIDE FC with multiple runs in the UFC — ultimately getting inducted into the promotion’s 2024 Class of Hall of Fame as a member of the pioneer wing.

He retired as a member of Bellator FC with a record of 35-14-1 and 27 knockouts.