Wanderlei Silva, known for his history of violence, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, following a 51-fight career with 35 wins, 27 of which were knockouts.
Wanderlei Silva’s legacy of brutality is forever etched in the UFC Hall of Fame. That’s a fact.
On Saturday, during the UFC 298 broadcast, they announced Silva as the newest addition to the hall’s Pioneer Wing. Quite the honor, right? They’ve dubbed him “The Axe Murderer,” and he’s set to be officially inducted this summer. That’s during International Fight Week, in case you’re wondering.
There’s a video package honoring Silva. Worth a watch, trust me.
Silva’s not the only one getting the nod in 2024. Frankie Edgar, a former UFC lightweight champion, is also on the list. He’s joining the hall’s Modern Wing, though.
Silva’s career? It’s been a wild ride. Starting in 1996, he’s had 51 fights. Earned himself a rep as one of MMA’s most intimidating figures. And one of the deadliest finishers, too. Out of 35 wins, he knocked out his opponent 27 times. That’s not all. He even had a 20-fight unbeaten streak with PRIDE. Legendary, right?
Japan is where Silva really made his mark. Scored some unforgettable knockouts. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Shungo Oyama, to name a few. He even competed for the UFC light heavyweight title early on. Mixed results in his second run, but he had some memorable finishes. Brian Stann, Cung Le, Keith Jardine. And who could forget his epic brawl with Chuck Liddell? Cemented his place as an all-time great.
Silva’s last fight was in 2018. Ended his career with a 35-14-1 (1 NC) record. Now, he’s joining the likes of Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, and Sakuraba in the Pioneer Wing. Impressive company, huh?