Wanderlei Silva, and the person who attacked him after the boxing exhibition Saturday night time, have lastly spoken out on the incident that has gone viral over the past 24 hours. Silva, who was disqualified for a number of fouls in opposition to former boxing champion Acelino Freitas in Sao Paulo, was knocked out chilly contained in the ring by Freitas’ son, Rafael.
“I broke my nostril and had seven stitches on the attention,” Silva stated on social media posts. “That didn’t occur throughout the match. … I’ve lots of complications, I’ll do extra assessments right here in Curitiba to establish if there’s any extra severe harm to the pinnacle. I’ll additionally verify with an ophthalmologist, as a result of I can’t open the attention. That was the injury prompted yesterday.”
In the identical video, Silva’s head coach Andre Dida stated that they’d to reply to assaults from members of Freitas’ staff after the principle occasion of Spaten Struggle Night time 2.
When Silva was disqualified, Freitas’ cornermen stormed the ring and began taunting the other camp. An unidentified member of Freitas’ staff throws a kick at Thor Silva, Wanderlei’s son, and so they go at it. Former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum, Acelino Freitas and “The Axe Assassin” had been attempting to calm issues down, however Werdum and Dida finally joined the brawl after the altercation between Thor and Freitas’ staff.
Rafael Freitas deleted his social media account within the early hours of Sunday after being recognized as the person who knocked Silva out. Freitas entered the ring and punched Silva behind the pinnacle, after which landed a proper punch to his jaw to drop him unconscious. He spoke to Globo about his actions and issued an apology to the 49-year-old MMA veteran.
“Once I realized a brawl had began, initiated by Wanderlei’s staff, his son, his coach Andre Dida and Werdum,” Freitas stated. “Once I noticed all of them assaulting my father and my brothers, I received in reputable protection. Within the warmth of the second, I solely considered defending my household.”
“‘Popo’s’ staff entered the ring after the outcome and got here at us, pointing fingers and cursing, like they’ve been doing all week,” Wanderlei Silva stated on a special video. “At any second I assaulted anyone. I used to be there holding folks after which received hit behind the pinnacle, after which punched within the eye. I used to be cowardly assaulted. As you may see, my eye continues to be bleeding and I’ve lots of headache.”
Globo aired an interview with Silva on Sunday night time through which he says he’s “a fan” of Freitas, however his staff’s actions had been unacceptable. The MMA veteran stated he can be all the way down to speaking to Freitas concerning the incident, however “there will likely be penalties” for his son for the assault.
“The match ended and as a substitute of his guys enter the ring to rejoice with ‘Popo’ and raise him, they got here at us,” Silva stated. “They had been appearing like that every one week lengthy, cursing at us. Even on the weigh-ins, one man began screaming disrespectful phrases at me. After we met contained in the ring [before the match], they had been threatening and saying, ‘This isn’t your home, we’ll eat you, you’re a useless canine.’ I received’t really feel cornered. I used to be very upset to see an idol behaving like that with me. Take a look at my eye, I can’t see. I’m dying with ache on the again the pinnacle from the punches.”
Werdum shared voice messages on his Instagram web page which he claims had been despatched by Acelino Freitas hours after the weigh-ins on Friday. Silva was aggravated that Freitas’ staff was speaking trash at him, which he felt was pointless.
“Loosen up brother, all people will get beat up,” Freitas allegedly stated in a voice message to Werdum. “When one will get beat within the nook, all people will get beat. Make certain that when he loses, additionally, you will lose. Be cool, brother. Get some sleep and dream concerning the loss tomorrow.”
Silva’s lawyer Claudio Dalledone instructed Combate that they are going to file a lawsuit in opposition to Rafael Freitas, calling his actions borderline tried homicide. Additionally, given Freitas alleged messages despatched on Friday, they may additionally sue the retired boxer for allegedly “incentivizing” the assault.
Freitas will endure surgical procedure Monday for a damaged hand. His coach instructed MMA Combating he suffered the harm throughout the match, not after. On his social media, the boxer claimed the audio messages had been “manipulated” to make it seem like they premeditated these actions.
Freitas shared a video the place Dida might be seen attacking him with two left palms to the face throughout the brawl, and stated his brother and cornerman Luis Claudio saved him from the worst. Freitas stated he apologizes on his behalf, in addition to his staff and sons, “and hope it’s reciprocated.”
“There are not any proper and fallacious on this episode,” Freitas wrote. “It actually was an unlucky post-fight [incident] that overshadowed the belt I had received with bravery and method in opposition to a a lot heavier big in entrance of me, a MMA legend. Let’s all get better and transfer on, guys. The noble artwork deserves that we go away apart each distinction, and we may give the instance that our sport shouldn’t be violence.
