Overview

• Spaten Fight Night 2 proceeds Saturday in São Paulo with Wanderlei Silva facing former boxing champion Acelino “Popó” Freitas after Vitor Belfort withdrew.
• Event organizers cited a statement from neurosurgeon Dr. Jorge Pagura saying Belfort suffered a training concussion with imaging abnormalities and could not compete on Sept. 27.
• Silva’s longtime coach, Andre Dida, questioned the legitimacy of the withdrawal and said Belfort “chickened out,” calling for detailed medical proof to be shared publicly.
• Wanderlei Silva criticized Belfort at a press event and said he expects to meet him next year, referencing their long-delayed rematch since Belfort’s 1998 win.
• The pre-fight weigh-in showed a major size gap, with Silva at 206.7 pounds and Freitas at 162.7, as the 41-2 two-division boxing champion steps in on short notice.