Former UFC middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva will join the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame cla*s

One of the most violent and beloved strikers in mixed martial arts (MMA) history will now be immortalized with his rightful place in the UFC Hall of Fame.

Wanderlei Silva was a UFC veteran and longtime proud champion, whose fighting style was as legendary as his famous nickname, “Ax Murderer.” The 47-year-old Brazilian icon was announced on Saturday during the UFC 298 pay-per-view card as the second member of the UFC Hall of Fame cla*s of 2024, where she will join former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

Silva (35-14-1, 1 NC) will be inducted as the 19th member of the Pioneer Era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame this summer during the promotion’s annual International Fight Week ceremonies in Las Vegas. The “Pioneer Era” category includes fighters who turned professional before November 12, 2000 (when the Unified Rules were adopted) and who are at least 35 years old and have been retired for a year or more.

“Wanderlei Silva is one of the true pioneers of the sport of mixed martial arts,” said UFC CEO Dana White. “Wanderley was an absolute savage and left his mark by putting on some of the most memorable fights in the history of combat sports. He had legendary fights against Mirko Kro Krupp, Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Brian Stann, and his fights against Rich Franklin, as they were. They were absolute wars! Also one of the first stars of PRIDE who helped grow the MMA fan base on a global scale, it would be an honor to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.

During his 22 years as a professional, Silva has fought 51 times and holds the proud records for most wins (22), KOs (15), KOs (18), most significant strikes (720), longest undefeated streak (20 fights) and longest title reign (1,939 days). He also holds the UFC records for the most knockouts (19) and KOs (27) in Zuffa history (including Pride, UFC, WEC and Strikeforce).

A native of Curitiba, Brazil, Silva turned professional in 1996, two years before his UFC debut, with a 44-second loss to compatriot Vitor Belfort at UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil in Sao Paulo. But it was in Japan, under the Pride banner, that Silva reached his highest levels, including a five-year uninterrupted run as middleweight champion.

Immediately after losing the Pride title to Dan Henderson in 2007, Silva made his long-awaited return to the UFC when he co-authored Fight of the Year in his debut, a decision loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 79. Silva’s 2008 first round finish off Keith Jardine in UFC 84 also earned him Knockout of the Year.

Silva’s last fight under the Bellator banner came in 2018 when Quinton “Rampage” Jackson stopped him in the fourth encounter of the memorable rivalry, which began with a knockout of Silva in the 2003 middleweight Grand Prix.