Sherdog Remembers: The Debut of ‘The Axe Murderer’

No one could have anticipated what was to follow when the first chapter in the Wanderlei Silva story was written on Nov. 1, 1996. Twenty years ago today, “The Axe Murderer” made his professional mixed martial arts debut at Brazilian Vale Tudo Fighting 6, where he cut down Dilson Filho with punches 3:35 into the first round. Silva was just 20 at the time, but he was already displaying the violent tendencies that would make him one of the most beloved and accomplished fighters of all-time.Filho poked the hornet’s nest from the start, as he executed a high-amplitude takedown, moved to side control and eventually kneed his counterpart right out of the ring. Once the battle resumed, wild punching exchanges ensued. It was not a wise course of action for Filho. Weary and winded, he tried to slow down Silva by stalling in the clinch and trapping him in the corners. The strategy was ineffective. Silva calmly created …

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