Wanderlei Silva to Face Bodybuilder Felipe Franco in Boxing Match on Nov. 25

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Wanderlei Silva will follow in the footsteps of fellow Brazilians Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Jose Aldo and Ronaldo Souza and try his hand at the Sweet Science later this year.

The 47-year-old Pride Fighting Championships legend revealed Sunday that he will face bodybuilder Felipe Franco on Nov. 25 in a boxing match under the Attack Fight Show banner. Silva made the announcement at a body building event called Muscle Contest Brasil, where “The Axe Murderer” and Franco faced off for the first time.

“My friends, fans and admirers, I am here to share news that fills my heart with emotion and excitement,” Silva wrote on Instagram. “After some time away from the ring, I'm back, but this time in a different style: boxing. I will be facing a major challenger, Felipe Franco, a renowned bodybuilder and a force to be recognized. This will be a battle of determination, strength and strategy. I'm looking forward to the fight night, the sound of the gong announcing the start of an intense battle. We will face each other with respect and courage, knowing that, in the end, only the best will prevail. Get ready for an epic fight, full of emotion and determination, because I'm back in the ring, ready to show the world all my power.”

One of the most respected fighters of the Pride era, Silva owns a 35-14-1 mark with one no contest over the course of an MMA career that began in 1996 and also included stints in the UFC and Bellator. His last appearance came in September 2018, when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Quinton Jackson at Bellator 206.

Franco, 37, is a state deputy in Sao Paulo and was once champion of the Arnold Classic, a famous bodybuilding competition. He will be making his combat sports debut.