Wanderlei Silva “The Axe Murderer”

Photo of Wanderlei Silva
Team Wand Fight Team Academy
Age 47
Gender Male
Height 5' 11"
Weight Class Heavyweight

Wanderlei Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, specializing in Muay Thai and having a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the former IVC Light Heavyweight Champion, the former PRIDE Middleweight Champion, and the PRIDE 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix Champion. Silva earned the nickname "The Axe Murderer" for his extremely aggressive fighting style; the majority of his fights have either ended in a knockout or referee stoppage due to his strikes. Throughout his career, Silva has trained with Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil, and, since moving to the United States in 2007, he has trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He currently trains in Brazil, with former Chute Boxe teammate Mauricio Rua, and in Las Vegas, at his newly opened Wand Fight Team Academy. On August 17, 2007, the UFC announced that they had signed Silva to compete in the organization.

Professional Career Statistics

Pro Record 36-13-1 (Win-Loss-Draw)
Career Length 7 months, 23 days
Rounds Fought 79.2
Avg. Fights/Year 2.4
Longest Layoff 4 years, 3 months, 22 days
Quickest Turnaround 1 week, 2 days

Record BreakDown

- KO/TKO SUB DEC
Wins 24 5 7
Losses 6 0 7
Finish Rate 80.6%
Finished Rate 46.2%
Win by Decision Rate 19.4%
Loss by Decision Rate 53.8%
Win by KO Rate 66.7%
Loss by KO Rate 46.2%
Win by SUB Rate 13.9%
Loss by SUB Rate 0.0%
Win Method
Loss Method

Quick Hits

Fastest Win 19
Fastest KO 29
Fastest SUB 19
Ave. Rounds (Ws) 1.2
Ave. Length of Fight (Ws) 06:11
Ave. Rounds (Ls) 2.3
Ave. Length of Fight (Ls) 11:33
Finish Rounds
Finished Rounds

Official Professional MMA Fight Record

Date Opponent Weightclass Method Round Time
OFF 09/29/2018 Unknown
(36-13-1) 		Quinton Jackson
(36-13-0) 		HW
( 226.9 vs. 254.4 ) 		No Contest
Bellator MMA 206 		2 04:32
OFF 06/24/2017 L
(36-12-1) 		Chael Sonnen
(31-18-1) 		LHW
( 205.8 vs. 205.8 ) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
Bellator MMA 180 		3 05:00
OFF 03/02/2013 W
(35-12-1) 		Brian Stann
(12-6-0) 		LHW
( 205.0 vs. 205.0 ) 		KO
UFC on Fuel 8 Japan: Silva vs Stann 		2 04:08
OFF 06/23/2012 L
(35-11-1) 		Rich Franklin
(28-7-0) 		LHW
( 188.0 vs. 190.0 ) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
UFC 147: Silva vs Franklin II 		5 05:00
OFF 11/19/2011 W
(34-11-1) 		Cung Le
(9-3-0) 		MW TKO/RSC
UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson 		2 04:49
OFF 07/02/2011 L
(34-10-1) 		Chris Leben
(20-12-0) 		MW
( 186.0 vs. 185.0 ) 		TKO/RSC
UFC 132: Cruz vs.Faber 		1 00:27
OFF 02/20/2010 W
(33-10-1) 		Michael Bisping
(30-9-0) 		MW
( 185.0 vs. 185.0 ) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez 		3 05:00
OFF 06/13/2009 L
(33-9-1) 		Rich Franklin
(28-7-0) 		LHW
( 194.0 vs. 194.0 ) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
UFC 99: The Comeback 		3 05:00
OFF 12/27/2008 L
(33-8-1) 		Quinton Jackson
(36-13-0) 		LHW
( 203.0 vs. 206.0 ) 		TKO/RSC
UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 		1 03:21
OFF 05/24/2008 W
(32-8-1) 		Keith Jardine
(17-11-2) 		LHW
( 20.0 vs. 205.0 ) 		TKO/RSC
UFC 84: Ill Will 		1 00:36
OFF 12/29/2007 L
(32-7-1) 		Chuck Liddell
(21-9-0) 		LHW
( 205.0 vs. 204.0 ) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
UFC 79: Nemesis 		3 05:00
OFF 02/24/2007 L
(32-6-1) 		Dan Henderson
(32-15-0) 		LHW
( 205.0 vs. 200.0 ) 		TKO/RSC
Pride 33: Second Coming 		3 02:08
NRB 09/10/2006 L
(32-5-1) 		Mirko Cro Cop
(38-11-2) 		KO (Head Kick)
Pride: Final Conflict Absolute 2006 		1 05:22
NRB 07/01/2006 W
(31-5-1) 		Kazuyuki Fujita
(16-14-0) 		TKO/RSC (Corner Threw in the Towel)
Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute 2006 		1 09:21
NRB 06/08/2006 W
(30-5-1) 		Claudemir Souza
(10-7-0) 		Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Rinos FC 2 		1 05:00
NRB 12/31/2005 W
(29-5-1) 		Ricardo Arona
(14-5-0) 		MW Decision (Split Decision)
Pride: Shock Wave 2005 		3 05:00
NRB 08/28/2005 L
(29-4-1) 		Ricardo Arona
(14-5-0) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
Pride: Final Conflict 2005 		2 05:00
NRB 06/26/2005 W
(28-4-1) 		Kazuhiro Nakamura
(21-13-0) 		TKO/RSC (Strikes)
Pride: Critical Countdown 2005 		1 05:24
NRB 04/23/2005 W
(27-4-1) 		Hidehiko Yoshida
(9-8-1) 		Decision (Split Decision)
Pride: Total Elimination 2005 		3 05:00
NRB 12/31/2004 L
(27-3-1) 		Mark Hunt
(13-14-0) 		Decision (Split Decision)
Pride: Shock Wave 2004 		3 05:00
NRB 10/31/2004 W
(26-3-1) 		Quinton Jackson
(36-13-0) 		MW KO
Pride 28: High Octane 		2 03:26
NRB 08/15/2004 W
(25-3-1) 		Yuki Kondo
(62-40-9) 		KO
Pride: Final Conflict 2004 		1 02:46
NRB 02/15/2004 W
(24-3-1) 		Ikuhisa Minowa
(59-44-8) 		KO (Punches)
Pride: Bushido 2 		1 01:09
NRB 11/09/2003 W
(22-3-1) 		Hidehiko Yoshida
(9-8-1) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
Pride: Final Conflict 2003 		2 05:00
NRB 11/09/2003 W
(22-3-1) 		Quinton Jackson
(36-13-0) 		TKO/RSC (Knees)
Pride: Final Conflict 2003 		1 06:28
NRB 08/10/2003 W
(21-3-1) 		Kazushi Sakuraba
(25-18-1) 		KO (Punch)
Pride: Total Elimination 2003 		1 05:00
NRB 11/24/2002 W
(20-3-1) 		Hiromitsu Kanehara
(19-25-5) 		MW TKO/RSC
Pride 23: Championship Chaos 2 		1 03:40
NRB 08/28/2002 W
(19-3-1) 		Tatsuya Iwasaki
(0-1-0) 		TKO/RSC (Referee Stoppage from Strikes)
Pride: Shock Wave 		1 01:16
NRB 04/28/2002 D
(19-3-0) 		Mirko Cro Cop
(38-11-2) 		Draw
Pride 20: Armed and Ready 		5 03:00
NRB 02/24/2002 W
(18-3-0) 		Kiyoshi Tamura
(32-13-2) 		MW TKO/RSC (Referee Stoppage)
Pride 19: Bad Blood 		2 02:28
NRB 12/23/2001 W
(17-3-0) 		Alexander Otsuka
(5-14-0) 		TKO/RSC (Doctor Stoppage)
Pride 18: Cold Fury 2 		3 02:22
NRB 11/03/2001 W
(16-3-0) 		Kazushi Sakuraba
(25-18-1) 		MW TKO/RSC
Pride 17: Championship Chaos 		1 10:00
NRB 05/27/2001 W
(15-3-0) 		Shungo Oyama
(15-17-0) 		TKO/RSC (Strikes)
Pride 14: Clash of the Titans 		1 00:30
NRB 03/25/2001 W
(14-3-0) 		Kazushi Sakuraba
(25-18-1) 		TKO/RSC (Referee Stoppage from Knees and Stomp)
Pride 13: Collision Course 		1 01:38
NRB 12/23/2000 W
(13-3-0) 		Dan Henderson
(32-15-0) 		Decision
Pride 12: Cold Fury 		2 10:00
NRB 10/31/2000 Unknown
(13-3-0) 		Gilbert Yvel
(39-16-1) 		No Contest (Unintentional Groin Strikes)
Pride 11: Battle of the Rising Sun 		1 00:21
NRB 08/27/2000 W
(12-3-0) 		Guy Mezger
(30-13-2) 		KO (Punches)
Pride 10: Return of the Warriors 		1 03:45
NRB 08/12/2000 W
(11-3-0) 		Todd Medina
(11-8-0) 		KO (Punch)
Meca Vale Tudo 2 		1 00:38
NRB 04/14/2000 L
(11-2-0) 		Tito Ortiz
(21-12-1) 		LHW Decision (Unanimous Decision)
UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3 		5 05:00
NRB 01/30/2000 W
(10-2-0) 		Bob Schrijber
(20-16-1) 		Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Pride: Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round 		1 02:42
NRB 11/21/1999 W
(9-2-0) 		Daijiro Matsui
(13-28-7) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
Pride 8 		2 10:00
NRB 09/12/1999 W
(8-2-0) 		Carl Greco-Ognibene
(6-4-0) 		Decision (Unanimous Decision)
Pride 7 		2 10:00
NRB 05/07/1999 W
(7-2-0) 		Tony Paterra
(2-3-1) 		KO (Knee)
UFC 20: Battle for the Gold 		1 02:53
NRB 04/28/1999 W
(6-2-0) 		Eugene Jackson
(13-9-0) 		Submission (Punches)
International Vale Tudo Championship 10: World Class Champions 		1 00:31
NRB 01/20/1999 W
(5-2-0) 		Adrian Serrano
(57-28-4) 		KO (Punches and Kick)
International Vale Tudo Championship 9: The Revenge 		1 00:29
NRB 10/16/1998 L
(5-1-0) 		Vitor Belfort
(26-14-0) 		TKO/RSC (Referee Stoppage from Strikes)
UFC: Ultimate Brazil 		1 00:44
NRB 08/23/1998 W
(4-1-0) 		Mike Van Arsdale
(8-5-0) 		KO (Punches and Kick)
International Vale Tudo Championship 6: The Challenge 		1 04:00
NRB 09/14/1997 W
(2-0-0) 		Sean Bormet
(0-1-0) 		KO (Kick)
International Vale Tudo Championship 2: A Question of Pride 		1 01:16
NRB 09/14/1997 L
(2-0-0) 		Artur Mariano
(5-2-0) 		TKO/RSC ( Doctor Stoppage from a Cut)
International Vale Tudo Championship 2: A Question of Pride 		1 13:10
NRB 09/14/1997 W
(2-0-0) 		Egidio de Costa
(5-14-0) 		Submission (Punches)
International Vale Tudo Championship 2: A Question of Pride 		1 02:27
NRB 07/01/1997 W
(1-0-0) 		Marcelao
(0-1-0) 		Submission (Vebal Submission from a Shoulder Injury)
Brazilian Vale Tudo 7 		1 00:19
NRB 11/01/1996 W
(0-0-0) 		Dilson Filho
(0-2-0) 		KO
Brazilian Vale Tudo 6 		1 03:36

* Bouts marked with 'OFF' denote results which have been verified by an ABC-recognized athletic commission. Bouts marked with an SB denote bouts overseen by a duly-recognized sanctioning organization. Bouts marked NRB denote non-regulated bouts.

* Bouts marked with an (*) are considered exhibition bouts and do not count towards the fighter's record

* Weights marked with an (*) denote those over the limit for the weight class