Sherdog’s Top 10: Light Heavyweights of All-Time

3. Wanderlei Silva

When “The Axe Murderer” was at the peak of his powers, no one could touch him. Arguably the most ferocious and violent fighter to ever compete in MMA, Silva was a maniacal whirlwind of lethal punches, kicks and knees. A longtime 205-pound titleholder in Pride Fighting Championships, he was without equal in the Japanese organization. Silva enjoyed a 20-fight unbeaten streak in Pride, ruled the 205-pound division like no other and recorded the most finishes in the company’s history, his 16 stoppages tying him with Mirko Filipovic. Upon returning to the UFC in 2007, the Brazilian captured two “Knockout of the Night” and five “Fight of the Night” bonuses. Among the men he has beaten during his career: Kazushi Sakuraba (three times), Quinton Jackson (twice), Dan Henderson, Hidehiko Yoshida, Ricardo Arona, Michael Bisping and Brian Stann. Silva boasts 28 finishes among his 35 career victories, 23 of them inside one round. Now 40, he plans to return from a four-year hiatus at Bellator 180 on June 24, when he meets Chael Sonnen in a pay-per-view headliner at Madison Square Garden.

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