(photo: Reproduction/Instagram/Wanderlei Silva)
Another challenge accepted! In the wake of fights between celebrities, ex-BBB and comedian Nego Di must face a legend from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the main MMA league in the world. The confrontation, however, will be under boxing rules. The rival will be Wanderlei Silva, one of the greatest Brazilian fighters of all time.
The former participant of the reality show The Big Brother Brazil accepted the fight in a video published on Instagram this Tuesday (23/4). “I accepted Wanderlei Silva’s challenge. I’m going to train my ass off, okay? And I’m going up! I’m going to truly shock the world, I’ve trained boxing for three years, I’m aware of it and I’m going back to training today”, said Nego Di.
Still in the video, the ex-BBB provoked Wanderlei Silva. “I’m going to show you that I’m not stupid. I’m going to stick my hand in this old tramp’s face! He’s already had a ‘paulera’ from Vitor Belfort, he’s disillusioned and he’s old. I’m going to put his face back together!”
Nego Di gained national fame when he participated in BBB, on TV Globo, in 2021. In that edition of the program, the comedian became the “most hated” member, being eliminated with 98.76% of the votes in the “wall” against Fiuk and Sarah , after being involved in some controversies in the house.
Wanderlei Silva, UFC legend
Wanderlei Silva, 47 years old, is one of the greatest MMA fighters in history. The Curitiba native was one of the first Brazilians to gain worldwide fame in the sport, long before Anderson Silva became a phenomenon.
The fighter was champion, for example, of the PRIDE middleweight GP, in 2003, and also won the belt in the same category, in 2001, against the feared Japanese Kazushi Sakuraba.
Wanderlei Silva’s career began in Vale Tudo – a sport that preceded MMA. The first fight for the Curitiba native, also known by the nickname “Crazy Dog”, was in November 1996, at the Brazilian Vale Tudo 6 event.
In October 1998, Wanderlei Silva starred in a historic fight against Vitor Belfort in the first edition of the UFC in Brazil. At Ginásio da Portuguesa, the “Crazy Dog” was knocked out in just 44 seconds.
Despite being quick, the fight between Wand and Belfort resulted in a rivalry that continues to this day. However, a rematch has not yet been played.
In total, Wanderlei Silva has 35 career wins, 14 losses, one draw and one “no contest” fight. He retired from MMA in September 2018 after being defeated by his longtime rival Quinton Rampage Jackson.
