Wanderlei Silva Tweets

Wanderlei Cesar da Silva ( pronounced vahn-der-LAY ), (born July 3, 1976 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He trained under Rudimar Fedrigo at the Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil. He specializes in Muay Thai and has received a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Carlos Gracie, Jr. He is the former IVC light-heavyweight champion, former Pride middleweight (205 lb) champion, and the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix champion.

Silva earned the nickname "The Axe Murderer" for his extremely aggressive fighting style; the majority of his fights have either ended in a knockout or referee stoppage due to his strikes. In the ring, he is known for engaging opponents with punches and utilizing knees in the Muay Thai clinch. Silva was given the nickname "Cachorro Louco" ("Mad Dog") in Brazil, which refers to his aggressive fighting style and of the way he stares down opponents before his fights.

Throughout his career Wanderlei has trained with Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil, and since moving to the United States in 2007, he has trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He currently trains in Brazil, with former Chute Boxe teammate Mauricio Rua, and in Las Vegas, at his newly opened Wand Fight Team Academy.