Wanderlei Silva calls UFC Hall of Fame announcement a ‘huge surprise’ | ESPN MMA

Megan Olivi speaks with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva backstage at UFC 298 after he was announced to be part of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
#Wanderlei #UFC #UFC298
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[@MrTrevorg18]

Its awesome seeing Wanderlei with a big smile on his face, being so friendly. That man was an absolute killer in his day.

[@redbaron5308]

I agree so much. It so nice to see him smile.

[@justinm1721]

Couldn't agree more. All time great of MMA. All them wars he had.

[@anthonyrodrigues5913]

Il a toujours été comme ça hors combat.

[@tonyclifton2230]

He wad always considered a nice guy.

[@TwoSixx187]

Wanderlei Silva was a beast in his prime 💯👊🏻

[@H.K.5]

2000-2004 Wanderlei was an absolute machine, would’ve been UFC champ during those days.

[@ScoobaSteveNC]

Still a beast in 2006-2013 too

[@TwoSixx187]

Indeed

[@yungugh1-689]

Yup axe murderer was scary af

[@H.K.5]

@@ScoobaSteveNC True but he was definitely at his peak before 2005.

[@Provos7777]

I met Wanderlei at Mohegan Sun Casino about 10 years ago at a Bellator show. Great guy & very humble. Wand is a pioneer, a bezerker in the ring. Wand along with Chuck Lidell & Sakuraba are who made me a fan of mma.

[@airwatching2]

likewise

[@Imhim247]

Wandy is one of my favorites fighters. Especially in Pride days

[@zachbranam822]

One of all of our favorite fighters. War Wandy!

[@Imhim247]

@@zachbranam822 He'll yeah!🙌🇧🇷

[@STEEPPOW]

I can’t let you get close to me.

[@Imhim247]

@@STEEPPOW Oh Cheal 😅😂😂😂😂

[@DonaldGreer84]

Dude was a manic back in the day

[@codymachado]

Manic or maniac 😂

[@MrSagarcool14]

Both lol ​@@codymachado

[@BrandysLoveBug]

I’m a manic and I approve

[@user-em5mr4ke3h]

“Can’t let you get close.” This man helped build the sport whether u like it him or not

[@kelainefes]

"This man helped build the sport, and you like him." There, fixed that for you. 🤣

[@Kevin-xz4jq]

We love you WAND!!! Thank you for so many memories.

[@isaidwithaposedlook4500]

Wanna now wanna now!!

[@petermatthews2831]

Bless wanderlei, he looks very happy 😂

[@tommyq374]

He's on that Cali weed most likely

[@therealnasr]

I cant let you get close to the hall of fame- Chael Sonnen

[@iqrakhalidzakariah4842]

Chael IS the Hall of Fame!

[@ScoobaSteveNC]

Chael was trash lol

[@sukhdevr3489]

​@@ScoobaSteveNCWrong

[@gamegreed9105]

Good for him but I find him annoying that really was a true story when Chale talked about how he saw him mistaken the bus as a horse and trying to feed the bus carrots that really did happen. I'm surprised he's still able to even form a sentence considering he is Punch-Drunk.

[@Philocyb1n]

@@sukhdevr3489 chael gave up and went to bellator, and then he gave that up too

[@JGD185]

"How far mma has come" in Pride at its height Wandy was fighting in front of over 50k people in Japan

[@JJ-om6nx]

Exactly.. In JAPAN.. Now it’s global dummy

[@codymachado]

Yeah I was gonna say. Come far in some ways but those pride shows were next level. 50k fans or an office building with 150 fans and an octagon

[@in33d2floss7]

​@@codymachado"DANA WHITE HERE TO ANNOUNCE SOME AWESOME EVENTS. LIVE FROM THE UFC APEX-" 😴😴 😴😴😴😴

[@2BaSedP0l0Swagq]

It’s became more world wide as a sport and definitely increased in popularity in the US 10 fold but PRIDE was the pinnacle of MMA in my opinion. Which is insane considering they haven’t been around for almost 20 years now.

[@Azariah197]

70-90k depending on what numbers you want to look at!

[@JasonVictorEverett]

He deserves it. Had some wars under the UFC banner. Liddell, Rampage, Stann, Jardine, etc.

[@pkz420]

You are not wrong... But his best days and best fights came before he entered the UFC. His pride fights were gold. Rampage, Henderson, Sakuraba, all legendary fights, just to name a few.

[@ef3602]

Congrats Wandy, well deserved! When he held Keith Jardine down by the throat and kept bashing him in the face, that was the moment I fell in love with this sport!

[@pkz420]

When he finished Rampage with a knee that knocked him out, and sent him flying through the ropes and almost out of the ring, was the moment for me.

[@justinm1721]

when he had a scrap with Krazy horse in the pride locker room😂🤙

[@carter3369]

His fight with Chuck Liddell was the first MMA fight I ever watched. It was an absolute war. Been hooked ever since.

[@WitsEnds]

Nice to see him happy and humble now knowing he was an absolute killer back in the day

[@BrotherPenny]

She’s letting him get way too close

[@1punch_man]

What are you going on about?

[@Mathis313]

@@1punch_maninside joke dummy

[@Milk-vw1cv]

​@@1punch_manhe wannanow

[@AbuBakr1979]

She didn't even shake his hand and She didn't ignore her ego and apologize for what she said.😁

[@E-A-Z-Y]

@@1punch_man why are you even here?

[@petarkosic8852]

such a peaceful, humble guy....

[@christopherjones7098]

Deserves to be there,legendary fighter

[@jinwonpark6475]

One of the true legends! Congrats!

[@chrisvincent9105]

I started watching this sport when I was 15 now I’m turning 32 this year… so many legends to thank and appreciate but this guy right here…scary af! Perfect nickname Eternal love wanderlei ❤🙏

[@warrgoddess8029]

I start watching MMA for him and Crocop, I download the pride fights in the Emule App when youtube did not exist lol

[@syntholshoulders1842]

Now is the kasuals er

[@SaintPhinehas]

I can’t let you get close

[@gangsterSoup]

The AXE 🪓 One of my all times favorite fighters ever. Dude was a beast in Pride then UFC

[@dixinbuttz44]

and ivc

[@vladghelu516]

Happy for him❤

[@redbaron5308]

Love seeing this man smile.

[@tugayzan668]

He looks so satisfied🍀

[@deenigeechtebz3598]

Wanderlei Silva still looks very fit, he barely aged. I'd like to see him one more fight in the ufc.

[@MrNuts70]

So happy to see Wanderlei Sliva get into the UFC Hall of Fame! This guy is a LEGEND!! Has many man MUST see fights!!!

[@cartezharvey6882]

Glad he's getting his flowers so many years competing

[@MrSagarcool14]

WannaNowWannaNowWannaNowWannaNowWannaNow- Wanderlaie Silva ( HALL OF FAMER )

[@MH-bv3hc]

Well deserved! Absolute legend! One of the fighters you never wanted to miss any of his fights. Because you knew someone was going to sleep and he always gave it everything in the octagon! I remember being in high school watching him in Pride and was just amazed at his fighting style. He also had the best stare downs. Congrats Silva! Thank you for the memories!

[@stewartborndy7169]

GREAT GUY THANKS BROTHER!!!!

[@roccosdough]

Congrats Wanderlei, most deserved. !!

[@IAMJEFFREY-cw9ns]

He was one of the scariest guys to have ever competed and his nickname the 'Axe Murderer' was one of the coolest nicknames ever!

[@jakestatefarm2470]

The fighter that got me into mma

[@11shah]

100% deserved

[@TotemYuri]

why is he soo peaceful and humble...

[@user-tm9ho3bm4v]

Cause Sonnen isn't there

[@billking1751]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣@@user-tm9ho3bm4v

[@bosesebi6685]

I thought at first that he's being ironic..

[@TotemYuri]

🤣🤣🤣🤣@@user-tm9ho3bm4v

[@sophiaquirk4905]

Never seen him so humble lol

[@billking1751]

Imagine if Rampage, Krazy Horse, and Sonnen walked by.

[@jollywolly55]

Such a legend, guy came to fight and was a warrior, fight with Hunt, Arona, Rampage, Chuck, Cro Cop. When he entered the ufc he already took so much damage etc

[@RandyVampiro]

Even though there were many ups and downs with the UFC, Wanderlei absolutely deserves to be in there.

[@SunAndMirror]

I'm happy that Wanderlei is happy! Lets all keep him happy!...Please!

[@romainlalande5891]

The legend... Watching him 20 years ago ... nostalgia

[@iainmartin2350]

Chutebox Wand in his prime was so fun to watch. Congrats Wanderlei,well deserved.

[@ahuramazda980]

Congratulations Wanderlei. We commend you and celebrate your life.

[@yasintorkman4813]

Still the goat of all nicknames. The axe murderer 🪓🪓🪓🪓

[@BIGGLO061]

Well deserved LEGEND 🇧🇷

[@lucareddavide3318]

Thank you for all the epic fights and memories. Well deserved

[@bababuyiekaban7942]

One of the most entertaining fighters in MMA history! Congrats Wanderlei, you deserve it!

[@billy2693xz]

Legend, one of the most ruthless

[@drunkmexicano]

Thank you Wandy!

[@j.p.1967]

He seems like such a chill, happy and kind older gentleman now. Lol. Never would guess he was known as “the axe murderer” in his day.

[@mrstarbuck9212]

the best intense face to face staring in the history of MMA.

[@JoeMartinez-oq5sy]

Dude fought prime mark hunt, unbelievable, even hunt was shocked.

[@ZaklnGritch]

I love Wanderlei so much his fighting style is a lot more entertaining than any other fighter

[@JungKimrecruiter]

Very well deserved for sure!

[@user-ji3pk8dm9z]

You deserve,God bless

[@pwr27986]

The guy was a warrior! Always came to fight. I hope he stays healthy and enjoys his post fighting life.

[@draco2xx]

wanderlei should voice big foot aka sasquatch💀

[@lead5s]

what a legend! wanderlei was the definition of full send every time he fought, he always brought it and was so fun to watch

[@RightfootWestHam]

When MMA was all steroids and toughness, Wand was the man, he was the champ! LEGEND!

[@KmKryptonian]

All time great and legend.

[@NaushadKhan-qv7sw]

U deserve it vandela never backed down from no one

[@JEG69]

happy to see these legends get their flowers

[@TelvinKipapa]

Well deserved 👏🏻

[@brockmire2303]

My favorite fighter

[@coconuthead8484]

Cap bro got a whole ad on his shirt 😂

[@vinnyhaddad]

Nothing encapsulates Wandy’s style like when he finished Yuki Kondo. There’s even a moment where Rampage is watching it ringside while commentating and he’s saying “ohh man…”.

[@roytrenneman2200]

What a beast he was back in the day!

[@humansymbiote]

Legend forever

[@underthe5thrib534]

“You wanna shake the hands?”

[@moondogrex4627]

Congratulations to this legend. Thank you for the blood sweat and tears Wanderlei you deserve your flowers.

[@mattbrock9491]

“I can’t let you too close”

[@yoslendelcueto3797]

I was really happy for you brother!

[@adrianwalker2833]

He is in fact very charming and friendly. I only knew him form his fights where he always came across as grumpy and scary.

[@wisdomveritas6281]

Now this man is a legend.

[@teamcabling1775]

His fight with stann is great.

[@ZYZZinVR]

bro so happy he would hug chael

[@petetherealrelentless6542]

Prime Wanderlei Silva is about as scary as it gets. The man absolutely earned this award.

[@PresidentEvil]

dudes a straight up boss

[@user-ko3ed8le5p]

Viva Wanderlei....

[@Adam-qm9gh]

A careful analysis concludes that he is quite happy

[@Elfrontu_1972]

Wayyyyy overdue…he should’ve been a HoFer a long time ago. He’s one of my favorite fighters hands down. Congratulations Sir! 🙌🏾🦾🙏🏾👏🏾

[@UnlimitedGamerUNG]

You can't let him get close!

[@tommyq374]

Really hope chael inducts him lol

[@eliasperez1022]

Look at his thumb he has definitely been through come battles. Legend

[@bbyflip1]

the Axe 🪓 murderer !! dude was a savage in pride with those soccer kicks 😂😂!! Silva vs rampage was a battle

[@DragonNectar]

Wand and Shogun were my boys

[@shawnbrummett587]

When these guys had their time! Wanderlei, chuck,rampage. They were king for a minute

[@jakergore]

ABSOLUTE KILLER!! congrats!

[@shanetaylor6823]

I turned the ppv on just as he got inducted was happy to see.

[@michaeljordan8694]

LEGEND!! 💯

[@CountOxymagomedovMMA]

We the UFC WannanowPosting page members from Facebook are soo proud of your induction to the HOF Hawman

[@jorad4887]

He's so different now, but he was a beast back in the day!

[@DeadManA8]

Wanderlei vs Brian Stann still one my favourite fights! Legend, well deserved 👏

[@batsysdad95]

Congrats Wanderlei! "Job is job"

[@edsonjr-dev]

💜💜💜

[@aqd84]

hahah, he was so scary and a beast, now he's so nice!! Love Wand!

[@Hugo-py2ce]

Awesome Wanderlei!

[@GabrielGarcia-jd5qv]

The " Crazy Dog" Wanderlei Silva was a great figther.

[@vanman724]

I feel like Wanerlei understood about 10% of what was being said.

[@dennis_brok900]

Swoon 👊 swoon 👊