MMA icon Wanderlei Silva has shared his condition following a brutal knockout he suffered during a chaotic post-fight brawl after his exhibition match at Spaten Fight Night 2.
Silva was disqualified from the boxing match versus Acelino “Popó” Freitas after repeated warnings for headbutts. After the bout ended, a melee broke out between both camps and Silva was struck — reportedly by Rafael Freitas, Popó’s son — and knocked unconscious.
In a video statement from Curitiba, Silva detailed his injuries:
- He’s dealing with a severe headache and cannot open one eye due to trauma.
- He plans to undergo further testing for possible brain injury and will consult an ophthalmologist to assess damage to his eye.
- Silva thanked doctors, the event staff, and fans for their support.
The attacker, Rafael Freitas, has publicly admitted to landing the punch, claiming it was an act of defense during the melee. He’s since apologized to Silva and his family.
Silva was released from the hospital after spending several hours undergoing exams. The full extent of his condition remains unclear, and he has pledged to provide more updates as new test results emerge.