Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Wanderlei César da Silva July 3, 1976 Curitiba, Brazil |
Other names | The Axe Murderer,Hatchet Murderer |
Nationality | ![]() |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
Division | 185 |
Reach | 74.0 in (188 cm)[1] |
Style | Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Fighting out of | Las Vegas, United States |
Team | Wand Fight Team |
Rank | black belt in BJJ |
Years active | 16 (1996-present) |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 45 |
Wins | 33 |
By knockout | 22 |
By submission | 4 |
Losses | 10 |
Draws | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Other information | |
Website | http://www.wanderleisilva.com.br/site_ing/ |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Last updated on: February 25, 2010 |
Wanderlei César da Silva (Portuguese pronunciation: [vandɛɾˈlej ˈsilvɐ]; English: /ˈvændərleɪ/, VAN-dər-lay; born July 3, 1976), also known as "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in knockout or referee stoppage due to strikes. His style includes engaging opponents with punches and knees from the Muay Thai clinch.
Silva began his training under Rudimar Fedrigo at the Chute Boxe Academy in his hometown of Curitiba, Brazil. Although he specializes in Muay Thai, he has also trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with trainer Cristiano Marcello and he received a black belt under Carlos Gracie, Jr. in 2003[2][3] Silva was given the nickname "Cachorro Louco" ("Mad Dog") in Brazil because of his aggressive style and his pre-fight opponent "stare down".[citation needed] He is the former IVC light heavyweight champion, former Pride middleweight (205 lb) champion, and the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix champion.
After spending a majority of his career in Brazil Silva moved to the United States in 2007 and he trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Preferring a more aggressive gym atmosphere, like he had at Chute Boxe, he opened his own gym, The Wand Fight Team Training & Conditioning Center, in Las Vegas.[4] Silva currently trains there with his former Chute Boxe coach Rafael Cordeiro.[5]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Silva's aggressive style is rooted in street brawling, refined with elements of Muay Thai and kickboxing. As a late teen he joined the military and was quickly recognized for his fighting talents and rose up in the ranks. Silva enlisted after already winning fight tournaments in his age group in Brazil.[6]
Silva's first professional match was on November 1, 1996, in the Brazilian Vale Tudo Fighting organization (BVF), where he knocked out Dilson Filho with punches at BVF 6. He fought in one other match in BVF, BVF 10 on July 1, 1997, against Marcelao, who submitted due to a shoulder injury.
Silva fought six matches in four different IVC events, IVC 2, IVC 6, IVC 9 and IVC 10, from 1997 to 1999. He won five of these matches by KO/TKO, with his lone loss being the result of a cut stoppage against Artur Mariano in the IVC 2 show on September 15, 1997. The cut was above his left eyelid and opened back up several times, partially because Silva continued to use the cut side of his head to inflict many head butts on Mariano over the course of the match.[7] The doctor observed the cut several times before the fight was ended.[7]
Silva culminated his IVC career by winning the promotion's light heavyweight belt with a submission win over Eugene Jackson in the IVC 10 show on April 27, 1999. It was after this fight that Silva earned the nickname "The Axe Murderer".
Silva participated in one Meca World Vale Tudo event, Meca 2 on August 12, 2000, where he knocked out Todd Medina with knees.
Silva entered the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 16, 1998, at UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil, in a match against Vitor Belfort. The match has arguably been Silva's worst defeat in his career, lasting only 44 seconds and ending with Silva being knocked down by Belfort's punches then being stopped by the referee. Silva won his next UFC match on May 7, 1999, at UFC 20 where he knocked out Tony Petarra with knees. On April 14, 2000, Silva was given a chance to fight for the UFC light heavyweight championship, but lost via decision to Tito Ortiz at UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3.
Pride Fighting Championships
Silva debuted in Pride at the Pride 7 event on September 12, 1999, winning against Carl Malenko by decision. From 1999 to 2004, Silva won eighteen-straight fights in Pride, excluding a draw against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (under slightly modified rules in which if the match would go the distance, the bout would be declared a draw) and a no contest against Gilbert Yvel (Silva accidentally kicked Yvel in the groin), giving him a twenty-fight unbeaten streak. Silva's reputation as a formidable MMA fighter grew as he developed a successful 5 year win record in the middle weight division (205 lbs) of Pride.
Silva fought Japanese superstar Kazushi Sakuraba for the first time at Pride 13: Collision Course on March 25, 2001. Silva won via TKO (strikes) at 1:38 into the first round. At Pride 17: Championship Chaos on November 3, 2001, Silva won the Pride middleweight (205 lb) championship when he defeated Sakuraba for the second time. Sakuraba suffered a broken clavicle and withdrew after the first round, giving Silva a TKO win via doctor's stoppage. The two fought for a third time on August 10, 2003 at Pride Total Elimination 2003, part of Pride's middleweight tournament. Silva knocked out Sakuraba with a two punch combination at 5:01 into the first round.
- See also: Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson
Silva faced Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at Pride Final Conflict 2003 on November 9, 2003. Silva won by TKO due to referee's stoppage after delivering seventeen consecutive knees to Jackson. Silva became Pride's 2003 tournament champion with the win. When the two fought again on October 31, 2004 at Pride 28: High Octane, Silva knocked out Jackson in the second round with knees in a clinch after being knocked down himself near the end of the first round. In Japan, Silva additionally gained his reputation as a fighter who has never been defeated by any Japanese opponent, resulting in a trend of various Japanese fighters being arranged by Pride to face him.
Silva's undefeated 5-year streak (18 wins, 14 knockouts) in Pride was broken by heavy weight Mark Hunt, a K-1 champion on December 31, 2004 at the Pride Shockwave 2004 event. Hunt won the non-title match by split decision. The decision was controversial because some who felt that Hunt's weight of 280 lb (125 kg), over 80 lb more than Silva, as well as Silva's performance in rounds two and three, had not been sufficiently considered by the judges in their decision; Randy Couture and Bas Rutten, both being commentators at the event, expressed disagreement with the judges decision. Silva also took this fight on two days notice. Nonetheless, Silva's 2004 campaign earned him Fighter of the Year honors from both Sherdog and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Silva's former status as Pride's middleweight champion first came under debate and criticism with his loss to Ricardo Arona (who subsequently lost the tournament to Silva's team-mate, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua) on August 28, 2005 at Pride Final Conflict 2005. The loss, by unanimous decision in the tournament's semi-finals, was Silva's first defeat in a middleweight match in Pride; however, since it was not a title fight and held under special rules due to the grand prix format (2 rounds instead of 3), Silva was still recognized as the middleweight champion. A rematch between Arona and Silva took place at the Pride Shockwave 2005 event on December 31, 2005, with Silva winning by split decision.
On May 18, 2006, Pride's parent company, Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE), announced that Silva would replace Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko in the Open-Weight Grand Prix. Emelianenko's doctors stated that his hand, which had recently undergone surgery, would not be in good enough shape to fight because the metal implant would still be present. Because Silva was also a champion, he received a first round bye and fought in the second round at Pride Critical Countdown Absolute, which took place on July 1, 2006. Silva moved to the semi-finals of the OpenWeight Grand Prix after defeating Kazuyuki Fujita by TKO (strikes) at 9:21 of round one.
On July 8, 2006, at UFC 61: Bitter Rivals, UFC president Dana White announced Silva would face Chuck Liddell in a UFC event held in November, provided Liddell beat Renato "Babalu" Sobral at UFC 62. Liddell did end up winning that fight. However, talks dwindled and the fight as advertised did not happen.
On September 10, 2006, at Pride Final Conflict Absolute, Wanderlei Silva was knocked out by Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in their rematch during the Open-Weight Grand Prix semi-finals. After a brief stoppage to tend to a swollen eye on Silva, "Cro Cop" struck Silva in the head with a left kick, knocking him out. On October 21, 2006 at Pride 32: The Real Deal, Wanderlei issued his challenge to Chuck Liddell to a fight inside a Pride ring in February, when the promotion returned to Las Vegas, Nevada, however Dana White stated that the fight would not be happening, citing Silva's recent KO loss to Mirko Filipovic which would have not allowed the NSAC to clear him medically for the fight that soon after being knocked out.
Silva put his Pride middleweight title on the line against Dan Henderson, Pride's welterweight (183 lb) champion at Pride 33: The Second Coming, held on February 24, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[8] In a night of upsets, Henderson knocked out Silva in the third round with a left hook to the head to become the new middleweight champion. This fight was held under unified rules which prevent knees and kicks to the head of a downed opponent as well as having five 5 minute rounds. Many believe this hindered Silva's ability to fully utilize his offensive arsenal. Silva was denied the ability to participate in Pride 34 due to medical suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) which made this his last Pride appearance.[9] Silva never lost under pure Pride rules at 205 pounds.
Return to the UFC
"I fight for my fans and they know I give my best. Every time I need to give a good show for them because tickets are so expensive and pay-per-view is so expensive. The fans know which fighters want to give a show. I love my fans and fight for my fans. It's so incredible that I'm from Brazil but when I fight American fighters the crowd is much more for me over the American fighters. They know I'm going to put on a show."
Wanderlei Silva talking about fighting in America and his motivation for fights.[10]
On August 17, 2007, the UFC announced that they had signed Wanderlei Silva to compete in the organization and that he would return to the Octagon on December 29, 2007 at UFC 79.[11][12] After months of speculation about Silva's opponent, UFC President Dana White announced that Chuck Liddell would be Silva's opponent for his return match.[13] The long-awaited match happened on December 29, with Wanderlei Silva losing to Chuck Liddell by unanimous decision. After the fight Silva said, "Win or lose I like to give the emotion for my fans"[14] He also added that he gave his best and promised that next time he will deliver a win.
Keeping to his promise, on May 24, 2008 at UFC 84 in Las Vegas, he earned a decisive knockout win against Keith Jardine at the 36 second mark of the very first round by referee stoppage, earning him Knockout of the Night honors.[15]. When Jardine threw a kick, Silva countered with a right-left-right combo that dropped him. Silva then finished the fight with ground strikes to earn the knockout.
At UFC 92, Wanderlei fought Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who he beat twice previously.[16] Jackson avenged his previous defeats by knocking Silva out with a left hook in the first round.[17] Following the fight, Silva has stated that he would like to fight Jackson again, for the 4th, and possibly in the future, even the 5th time.
Wanderlei met Rich Franklin at UFC 99 in Germany at a catchweight bout of 195 lbs.[18] After a hard fought match on both sides, Silva lost via unanimous decision to Franklin. During the second round, Silva rocked Franklin hard with punches and almost finished the match during that moment. Silva then announced he would be out of action until 2010, as he underwent facial surgery to repair his nose (which was broken during Silva's second fight with Cro Cop, and then repeatedly broken again in later matches) and remove some scar tissue from above his eyes to avoid bleeding and being easily cut open during future fights.
Silva made his middleweight (185 lbs) debut during UFC 110 against British striker Michael Bisping on February 21, 2010.[19] During the fight Bisping was able to take Silva down several times during the first round, however Wanderlei came back with a flurry of punches at the end of the first round, a tight guillotine choke in the second, and a right hook that dropped Bisping in the third. After three rounds of fighting, Silva was awarded the unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) and his first victory in almost two years.
Personal life
Wanderlei is married and has a daughter and a son named Thor.
Championships and awards
International Vale Tudo Championships
- IVC Light Heavyweight Championship
- Pride Middleweight Championship (2001-2007)
- 2003 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Winner
Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night Honors
- Knockout of the Night Honors
- 2001 Feud of the Year (vs Kazushi Sakuraba)
- 2001 Shootfighter of the Year
- 2003 Shootmatch of the Year (vs Hidehiko Yoshida)
- 2004 Shootfighter of the Year
- 2004 Shootmatch of the Year (vs Quinton Jackson)
- 2004 Fighter of the Year [1]
Mixed martial arts record
45 matches | 33 wins | 10 losses |
By knockout | 22 | 5 |
By submission | 4 | 0 |
By decision | 7 | 5 |
Draws | 1 | |
No contests | 1 |
Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
Win | 33-10-1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez | 2010-02-21 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Fighting at Middleweight |
Loss | 32–10–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 99: The Comeback | 2009-06-13 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Fought at a catchweight of 195 lb. Won Fight of the Night Honors |
Loss | 32–9–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Punch) | UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 | 2008-12-27 | 1 | 3:21 | ![]() | |
Win | 32–8–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Punches) | UFC 84: Ill Will | 2008-05-24 | 1 | 0:36 | ![]() |
Won Knock Out of the Night Honors |
Loss | 31–8–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 79: Nemesis | 2007-12-29 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Won Fight of the Night Honors |
Loss | 31–7–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Punch) | Pride 33: The Second Coming | 2007-02-24 | 3 | 2:08 | ![]() |
Lost Pride Middleweight Championship |
Loss | 31–6–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Head Kick) | Pride Final Conflict Absolute | 2006-09-10 | 1 | 5:26 | ![]() |
Pride 2006 Openweight Grand Prix Semifinal |
Win | 31–5–1 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Punches) | Pride Critical Countdown Absolute | 2006-07-01 | 1 | 9:21 | ![]() |
Pride 2006 Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal, was replacement for Fedor Emelianenko |
Win | 30–5–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Split) | Pride Shockwave 2005 | 2005-12-31 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Defends Pride Middleweight Championship |
Loss | 29–5–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride Final Conflict 2005 | 2005-08-28 | 2 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Pride 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal |
Win | 29–4–1 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Punches) | Pride Critical Countdown 2005 | 2005-06-24 | 1 | 5:24 | ![]() |
Pride 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal |
Win | 28–4–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Split) | Pride Total Elimination 2005 | 2005-04-23 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Pride 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
Loss | 27–4–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Split) | Pride Shockwave 2004 | 2004-12-31 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Originally scheduled to face Kazushi Sakuraba. Withdrew due to injury. |
Win | 27–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Knees) | Pride 28: High Octane | 2004-10-31 | 2 | 3:26 | ![]() |
Defends Pride Middleweight Championship |
Win | 26–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Stomps) | Pride Final Conflict 2004 | 2004-08-15 | 1 | 2:46 | ![]() | |
Win | 25–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Punches) | Pride Bushido 2 | 2004-02-15 | 1 | 1:09 | ![]() | |
Win | 24–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Knees) | Pride Final Conflict 2003 | 2003-11-09 | 1 | 6:28 | ![]() |
Won Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix |
Win | 23–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride Final Conflict 2003 | 2003-11-09 | 2 | 5:00 | ![]() |
Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal |
Win | 22–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Punch) | Pride Total Elimination 2003 | 2003-08-10 | 1 | 5:01 | ![]() |
Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
Win | 21–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Corner Stoppage) | Pride 23: Championship Chaos 2 | 2002-11-24 | 1 | 3:40 | ![]() |
Defends Pride Middleweight Championship |
Win | 20–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Punches) | Pride Shockwave | 2002-08-28 | 1 | 1:16 | ![]() | |
Draw | 19–3–1 (1) | ![]() |
Draw | Pride 20: Armed and Ready | 2002-04-28 | 5 | 3:00 | ![]() | |
Win | 19–3 (1) | ![]() |
KO (Punch) | Pride 19: Bad Blood | 2002-02-24 | 2 | 2:28 | ![]() |
Defends Pride Middleweight Championship |
Win | 18–3 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | Pride 18: Cold Fury 2 | 2001-12-23 | 3 | 2:02 | ![]() | |
Win | 17–3 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | Pride 17: Championship Chaos | 2001-11-03 | 1 | 10:00 | ![]() |
Won First Pride Middleweight Championship |
Win | 16–3 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Punches) | Pride 14: Clash of the Titans | 2001-05-27 | 1 | 0:30 | ![]() | |
Win | 15–3 (1) | ![]() |
TKO (Soccer Kick) | Pride 13: Collision Course | 2001-03-25 | 1 | 1:38 | ![]() | |
Win | 14–3 (1) | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride 12: Cold Fury | 2000-12-09 | 3 | 5:00 | ![]() | |
No Contest | 13–3 (1) | ![]() |
No Contest | Pride 11: Battle of the Rising Sun | 2000-10-31 | 1 | 0:21 | ![]() |
Yvel was kicked in the groin |
Win | 13–3 | ![]() |
KO (Punches) | Pride 10: Return of the Warriors | 2000-08-27 | 1 | 3:45 | ![]() | |
Win | 12–3 | ![]() |
KO (Knees) | Meca World Vale Tudo 2 | 2000-08-12 | 1 | 0:39 | ![]() | |
Loss | 11–3 | ![]() |
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3 | 2000-04-14 | 5 | 5:00 | ![]() |
For UFC Light Heavyweight Title |
Win | 11–2 | ![]() |
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round | 2000-01-30 | 1 | 2:42 | ![]() | |
Win | 10–2 | ![]() |
Decision | Pride 8 | 1999-11-21 | 2 | 10:00 | ![]() | |
Win | 9–2 | ![]() |
Decision | Pride 7 | 1999-09-12 | 2 | 10:00 | ![]() | |
Win | 8–2 | ![]() |
KO (Knee) | UFC 20: Battle for the Gold | 1999-05-07 | 1 | 2:53 | ![]() | |
Win | 7–2 | ![]() |
Submission (Strikes) | IVC 10: World Class Champions | 1999-04-27 | 1 | 0:32 | ![]() |
Won IVC Light-Heavyweight Championship |
Win | 6–2 | ![]() |
KO (Punches and Kicks) | IVC 9: The Revenge | 1999-01-20 | 1 | 0:22 | ![]() | |
Loss | 5–2 | ![]() |
TKO (Punches) | UFC: Ultimate Brazil | 1998-10-16 | 1 | 0:44 | ![]() | |
Win | 5–1 | ![]() |
KO (Punches and Kicks) | IVC 6: The Challenge | 1998-08-23 | 1 | 4:00 | ![]() | |
Loss | 4–1 | ![]() |
TKO (cut) | IVC 2: A Question of Pride | 1997-09-15 | 2 | 13:10 | ![]() | |
Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
Submission (Punches) | IVC 2: A Question of Pride | 1997-09-15 | 1 | 2:27 | ![]() | |
Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
KO (Head Kick) | IVC 2: A Question of Pride | 1997-09-15 | 1 | 1:19 | ![]() | |
Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
Submission (Shoulder Injury) | Brazilian Vale Tudo 10 | 1997-07-01 | 1 | 0:20 | ![]() | |
Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
KO (Elbow) | Brazilian Vale Tudo 6 | 1996-11-01 | 1 | 3:35 | ![]() |
References
- ^ UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 (Television Production). Las Vegas, Nevada: Zuffa, LLC. December 27, 2008.
- ^ "UFC : Wanderlei Silva". Ufc.com. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ http://www.onzuka.com/news_2003Nov3.html
- ^ http://www.wanderleisilva.com.br/site_ing/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=5
- ^ http://www.wandfightteam.com/news.html
- ^ http://www.wanderleisilva.azplayers.com/wanderlei-silva-biography.html
- ^ a b West, David. "The Axe Murderer". Fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ "PrideFC Official Website". Pridefc.com. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ Yu, Al (March 14, 2007). "Fighters Announced for Pride 34". Mmaweekly.com. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ Martin, Todd (December 22, 2008). "Silva, Jackson renew classic rivalry for Round 3". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Marvez, Alex (August 18, 2007). "UFC locks up Pride superstar Silva". Fox Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- ^ Iole, Kevin (August 18, 2007). "Which Silva will show up in UFC?". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- ^ "Finally, Two Legends Meet". ufc.com. October 24, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- ^ Gerbasi, Thomas (October 16, 2007). "Wanderlei Silva - The Return of The Axe Murderer - Part I". Mmaplayground.com. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ Martin, Damon (May 25, 2008). "UFC 84 awards net fighters $75,000 bonuses". Mmaweekly.com. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081227/sports/mma_ufc92_4
- ^ UFC 92: Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson Knocks Out Wanderlei Silva
- ^ "Franklin-Silva Eye UFC 99 Date at 195". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping set for Australia in February". 2009-11-24.
External links
- "Official site of Wanderlei Silva". wanderleisilva.com.br.
- "Wanderlei Silva profile". UFC official website.
- Professional MMA record for Wanderlei Silva from Sherdog
- Wanderlei Silva audio interview from 12/19/08
- "www.wandfightteam.com". Wanderlei Silvas training center.
- "Wanderlei Silva". Wanderlei Silvas Fight Page.