Brazilian UFC and PRIDE legend Wanderlei Silva is headed to the UFC Hall of Fame.
Promotion officials made the announcement during the UFC 298 main card on Saturday, with “The Axe Murderer” on hand for the recognition.
Silva will be inducted into the Pioneer Wing of the Hall, per the PPV broadcast.
Wanderlei Silva’s fights with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Chuck Liddell are the stuff of MMA myth and legend. Finishing his career with a record of 35-14-1, 1NC, Silva began fighting in 1996, and fought Tito Ortiz at UFC 25 for the then-vacant light heavyweight title. The Brazilian would win the PRIDE middleweight championship in 2001, defending the belt four times before losing it in 2007.
Silva also won the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix, while still reigning as champ.
“Wanderlei Silva is one of the true pioneers of the sport of MMA,” UFC CEO Dana White said in a press release distributed shortly after the announcement. “Wanderlei was an absolute savage who left his mark by delivering some of the most memorable fights in combat sports history. He had legendary fights against Mirko Cro Crop, Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Brian Stann, and his fights against Rich Franklin, as they were absolute wars! He was also one of the early superstars of PRIDE who helped grow the MMA fanbase on a global scale, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”
The UFC Hall of Fame 2024 Induction Ceremony will take place during this year’s International Fight Week, and will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.
