Popó Freitas defeats Wanderlei Silva by disqualification in fourth round, chaos erupts in São Paulo Por Luís Henrique Costa
4 min de leitura
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Acelino “Popó” Freitas secured a victory by disqualification over Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Spaten Fight Night, held on the night of September 27, 2025, in São Paulo. The bout, scheduled for eight rounds of boxing, ended in the fourth round after three infractions by the 49-year-old opponent.
Members of both fighters’ teams stormed the ring immediately after the referee’s announcement, leading to a widespread brawl. During the chaos, Wanderlei Silva was struck with a right punch to the chin and fell unconscious on the canvas.
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The incident occurred because Wanderlei accumulated warnings for breaking boxing rules, including illegal headbutts. The brawl overshadowed the official result and required security intervention to be contained.
Infractions during the fight
Wanderlei Silva started the first round aggressively, pushing Popó against the ropes. The Bahian boxer broke free and landed punches on his opponent’s face, who kept moving but took damage.
In the second round, Popó picked up the pace after Wanderlei slipped, cornering him against the ropes with a series of punches. The MMA fighter responded with slower strikes, causing minimal damage to the four-time world champion.
- First warning: Wanderlei ignored the referee’s order to stop the action.
- Second infraction: Accidental headbutt during a clinch, briefly halting the round.
- Third violation: Another intentional headbutt, leading to a point deduction.
These events heightened tensions, culminating in the disqualification at 1 minute and 34 seconds of the fourth round.
Immediate aftermath of the event
Popó Freitas expressed regret over the brawl in a post-fight interview, stating he came to compete cleanly. He emphasized the importance of respecting rules and criticized external interference that escalated the incident.
Security cleared the ring within minutes, separating those involved and enabling prompt medical attention for Wanderlei. Fabrício Werdum, from the loser’s corner, joined the brawl and later justified his actions as a collective defense.
Vitor Belfort, a former rival of Wanderlei in MMA, publicly commented on the episode, pointing to the infractions as the key factor in the negative outcome. The remark fueled debates about conduct in boxing-MMA crossover events.
Other athletes present, such as Bia Ferreira, watched the incident from the stands but focused on their own victories on the card.
Medical care for Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva remained unconscious for about four minutes after the chin strike, receiving oxygen on-site. The medical team stabilized him before transporting him on a stretcher to an ambulance, accompanied by Werdum.
The fighter arrived at São Luiz Hospital in São Paulo’s South Zone around 1 a.m. Imaging tests on his head and cervical spine showed no serious issues, per the initial report.
A suture was applied to a superficial facial cut, and he was discharged after four hours of observation. His manager confirmed the hospital visit was precautionary, with no neurological complications.
Organizer’s stance
Spaten, the event’s main sponsor, issued a statement condemning the post-fight actions. The company stressed the need to prioritize respect for sports rules in all future editions.
Additional security was deployed for the remainder of the night, ensuring the co-main events continued without interruptions. The incident did not affect live broadcasts on Globo and Combate.
Sporting authorities are expected to review footage for potential penalties for those involved in the brawl. The local boxing federation is monitoring ring invasion cases to prevent precedents.
Co-main event results
Bia Ferreira dominated Maira Moneo in the lightweight division, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 98-92, 96-94, and 98-92. The Olympic medalist controlled the pace with precise jabs throughout the rounds.
Hebert Conceição defeated Yamaguchi Falcão in the super-middleweight division, also by unanimous decision with a triple 100-90 score. The Paris gold medalist maintained distance with superior footwork and effective counterattacks.
In MMA, Thiago Manchinha closed the card against Wanderson Barcellos with a unanimous decision in a triple 29-28. The intense exchange of strikes kept the audience engaged until the final round.
