UFC legend brutally knocked out - by a man wearing a TUXEDO - in post-fight brawl following boxing debut

Legendary UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva's boxing debut could hardly have gone worse. 

First the 49-year-old lost his fight against Acelino Freitas, and then he was knocked out in a bloodthirsty post-bout brawl. 

Silva had taken on a tough challenge in Freitas, a former boxing champion at two weights who boasted a record of 41-2. 

And he seemed out of ideas against the Brazilian, as he was warned for a scandalous headbutt in the fourth round - and then disqualified for doing it again moments later. 

And it's safe to say absolute mayhem then broke out as members of each fighter's entourage stormed the ring, exploding into a brawl. 

The punches flew thick and fast and at some point in the melee, one chap swung a vicious right uppercut at Silva and knocked him out cold.

Silva lay still on the canvas as the storm continued around him.

One good samaritan dragged away Silva, known as The Axe Murderer, and he eventually made it to the sanctuary of his changing room.

It is unclear why Silva went for the headbutts, but he is used to using more than his fists as an iconic MMA fighter. 

Silva holds the most wins, knockouts, and title defences with Japanese MMA promotion company PRIDE Fighting Championships, as well as the longest winning streak of five years and 18 fights. 

He reigned as middleweight champion for six years but this was his first contest since 2018, when he lost to Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson at Bellator 206.

But perhaps that is no excuse, as it had actually been longer since Freitas had been in action. 

Freitas, 50, retired as a professional boxer in 2006 and last hung up his gloves after beating Gabriel Martinez in 2017.

Since retiring, he has traced an unorthodox career path, becoming a legislator for the state of Bahia between 2001 and 2014.