Sherdog’s Top 10: Wanderlei Silva Moments (Good, Bad & Ugly)

---

9. GONE IN 44 SECONDS

Silva had not competed against anyone likes Vitor Belfort during his sequence of victories in the International Vale Tudo Championship, but he was billed as a serious challenge to “The Phenom” at UFC 17.5 on Oct. 16, 1998.

In the end, Belfort ruined the idea a successful debut, ending Silva’s highly anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship unveiling in just 44 seconds. Belfort caught Silva with a punch right off the bat, following up with a combination of strong shots that dropped “The Axe Murderer” to the canvas and forced the hand of referee “Big” John McCarthy.

The loss sent Silva back to Brazil and ultimately to the friendly confines of Pride Fighting Championships. “The Axe Murderer” would rattle off six consecutive wins following his failed UFC debut and did not lose again until he returned to the Las Vegas-based promotion against Tito Ortiz in 2000.

Number 8 » Close Encounters of the First Kind