Mixed martial arts legend Wanderlei Silva was left unconscious during a violent post-fight brawl following his exhibition boxing match against former two-division world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas at Spaten Fight Night 2 on September 27, 2025, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Silva, who entered the ring 44 pounds heavier than his opponent, was disqualified in the fourth round for repeated headbutts, escalating tensions that led to a chaotic melee involving members from both corners.
Freitas Issues Apology for Post-Fight Chaos
Freitas took to social media to clarify his position and apologize for the brawl:
“Wanderlei was disqualified for foul play and illegal, anti-sports hitting in the quad where it was just me and him,” Freitas said. “Before that, he’d already caught a lot in every round we’ve played. Lacked emotional balance to make a clean boxing match and continue to the end. The result is clear: the Spaten Fight Night belt is mine!”
He continued: “Once again, I regret the episodes after the match, and I reiterate all my repudiation manifestations and previous notes rebuking all attempts to manipulate information of the opponent team. But boxing is bigger: respect, discipline and truth will always prevail. Thank you all for your support. This conquest is ours!”
Hospital Update and Family Clarification
Following the revelation that Rafael Freitas, Acelino’s son, delivered the knockout punch, Freitas issued another statement from the hospital:
“I’m in Salvador. In the hospital. Admitted. Under observation. Tomorrow I’ll undergo surgery. As soon as possible, I’ll share more details with you all. What I’d definitely like to be doing right now is celebrating the victory! We took the Spaten Fight Night belt, and nothing that happened will overshadow this epic moment for boxing and Brazilian sport.
Regarding the audio and videos you’ve been watching, don’t manipulate them. Never, under any circumstances, would my team or I premeditate any trouble after the fight. I’ve been boxing for decades, with the principles of the noble art naturally ingrained in my life… and I’ve never been involved in any of this, much less my team and children!
They’re trying to pin this behavior on us, which is among the most common in the history of those involved on the opposing team.
In any case, there’s only one image that prevails in the spectacle prepared by Spaten: that of my victory, punishing Wand round after round—which unbalanced him, to the point of all the illegal measures, dirty play, and being disqualified for unsportsmanlike actions, when ONLY HIM AND I were in the ring.
May God watch over me during this medical procedure! And may I soon be fully recovered from the savagery of those who should have been there to absorb and separate any disagreements—and not the other way around. Everything passes! I’m convinced I’ll come back even stronger! And fighting with high-level people who respect boxing, just as I do.”
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Freitas has publicly apologized for the chaotic events following the fight, though he has yet to directly admit that his son, Rafael, was the one who delivered the knockout punch that went viral online. In the wake of the incident, Rafael removed his Instagram account, which had been previously tagged by his brother Juan during the event.
Meanwhile, Wanderlei Silva, now 49, had only recently returned to competition after a lengthy seven-year break. His last fight before this return was a knockout defeat to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 206 in September 2018. Silva, celebrated as both a UFC Hall of Famer and a PRIDE legend, faced a dramatic and unexpected setback in this latest exhibition match.
