UFC legend Wanderlei Silva stood in the eye of a storm at Spaten Fight Night 2 last Friday, proving that even icons are not untouchable. Once feared worldwide for his ferocity inside the cage, ‘The Axe Murderer’ entered the ring against veteran boxer Acelino Freitas in what was meant to be a controlled exhibition boxing showcase. However, the night quickly erupted into chaos. After an “illegal” headbutt disqualified Silva, sparking fury, Freitas’ son, Rafael, unexpectedly punched him unconscious, sending him crashing to the canvas.

As a result, officials scrambled to regain control while the MMA star lay battered amid the bedlam, turning the arena into a scene reminiscent of a battlefield. Later, from his hospital bed, Wanderlei Silva shared the harrowing aftermath on social media, showing a face swollen and stitched near his eye—a visible testament to the night’s violence. Consequently, the boxing commission suspended the Brazilian for 180 days, while he now weighs pressing a*sault charges against both Acelino Freitas and his son.

Wanderlei Silva demands justice after a*sault at Fight Night 2

In a recent update, he demanded justice and vowed to pursue a legal battle on Instagram. “That’s it, everyone,” Wanderlei Silva continued, “This was the outcome of Spaten Fight Night 2 for Wand. I broke both of my orbits. My nose is broken in four places. I was a*saulted in a criminal manner by Popó’s son, who jumped into the ring. He literally jumped into the ring and immediately hit me with two punches to the back of my head. Then, after landing that punch, he opened a seven-stitch cut near my eye.”

“So… I’m very sad, I’m very hurt. I’m hurt inside, I’m hurt outside. You know, I look at that scene—me lying on the ground and people there, who weren’t even event security because the event had no security, pulling me away, right? What a horrible scene, you know?”

“Now, I would have had several jobs to do, but I can’t do my work because of my face. I can’t sleep. I’m going through a lot of pain, I’m experiencing a lot of discomfort. This cannot go unpunished. Without a doubt, it was a very criminal act. And the law must judge every criminal act.”

Wanderlei Silva, 49, has long carried the invisible weight of concussions, a toll he openly discussed during the UFC antitrust lawsuit. Now, the aftermath of Saturday’s melee adds another layer to that struggle. In a Sunday update, he admitted he is still feeling the effects: “a lot of dizziness and a headache that just won’t go away.” With his right eye swollen shut and heavily bruised, Silva revealed he plans to undergo “more detailed exams” this week to check for potential serious head trauma.

Looking at the injuries that affected Silva’s career

Wanderlei Silva stepped away from competitive combat sports in 2018 after he lost his last fight to fellow UFC veteran Quinton Jackson at Bellator. Since that bout, the Brazilian star largely stayed out of the spotlight—until last Saturday night. However, the echoes of his storied battles continue to resonate, a constant reminder of the price he paid inside the cage. Last year, Silva revealed in a letter supporting the UFC antitrust settlement that his fighting career left lasting health challenges: “I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE including depression, mood swings, and irritability.”

In addition, like many fighters, ‘The Axe Murderer’ endured repeated blows to the face, which worsened over time. Similarly, echoing UFC lightweight BJ Penn discussing his own trauma, Silva detailed the physical toll of his career: “I suffer from sleep apnea and have difficulty sleeping and breathing. That I can recall, I have had four surgeries on my nose, one on my face, two on my left knee, one on my right knee and one on my elbow.”

Now, the storm of legal action has emerged from the shadows. Yet, Wanderlei Silva and Freitas’ son have polarized the fight world, sparking debates and divided loyalties. Vitor Belfort, the fighter Silva was originally supposed to face, publicly criticized him and urged him to apologize to the Brazilian fans. Meanwhile, ‘The Axe Murderer’s lawyer, Claudio Dalledone, revealed they are contemplating filing a case against Rafael Freitas, describing his actions as “borderline attempted m*rder.” The saga is far from over—more drama looms on the horizon.