Bellator President Scott Coker and Wanderlei Silva (క్రెడిట్: వారియర్ / లుకాస్ నూనాన్)

 

SANTA MONICA (మార్చి 2, 2016) –Bellator MMA is pleased to announce that one of the most popular, recognizable and beloved fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts, Wanderlei "యాక్స్ మర్డర్స్" సిల్వా (35-12-1), has signed an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract with the promotion. The 39-year-old publicly fielded offers from companies all around the world, but the former Pride FC Middleweight Champion made the decision to take his explosive style to Bellator MMA.

 

“The Axe Murderer” has fought in some of the most memorable feuds and battles the sport has ever seen. His wars with క్వింటన్ "రాంపేజ్" జాక్సన్, టిటో ఒర్తిజ్, మిర్కో క్రో కాప్, Vitor బెల్ఫోర్ట్, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Chuck Liddell, and Michael Bisping are the stuff of legend – but Silva is far from ready to close the book on his illustrious career.

 

In addition to his Pride FC Middleweight World Championship, Silva’s packed trophy case of accolades includes awards for Fight of the Year (2003, 2004, 2007), ఇయర్ కో (2008), and multiple Fight of the Night awards including one for each of his last three fights, just to name a few. He now looks to continue to provide his award-winning, entertaining fights inside the Bellator cage.

 

Silva has several options for his first fight with Bellator. Although he has spent the majority of his career at 185-pounds, one of the things that his fans love most about him has been Wanderlei’s willingness to fight the best of the best – even if it was up two weight classes at heavyweight – as proven by his heavyweight wars against guys like Mark Hunt, Gilbert Yvel, Kazuyuki Fujita and Cro Cop; Or, his battles against light heavyweights like Ortiz, and his most recent opponent, బ్రియాన్ స్టాన్, who he knocked out in the second frame.

 

Silva is the latest in a long line of recent free agent signings made by Scott Coker and Bellator MMA. The former Chute Box competitor joins: జోష్ థామ్సన్, ఫిల్ డేవిస్, బెన్సన్ హెండర్సన్, సెర్గీ Kharitonov మరియు Anastasia Yankova on a roster with champions the likes of: మార్కోస్ గార్వాయో, డేనియల్ స్ట్రాస్, విల్ బ్రూక్స్, ఆండ్రీ Koreshkov, రాఫెల్ Carvalho, లియాం McGeary మరియువిటాలీ Minakov,