Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Wanderlei Silva was a victim of a bicycle accident. The former PRIDE middleweight champion was hit by a car when he was riding his bicycle in his hometown of Curitiba, Brazil.
The accident took place on Wednesday night and in an interview with Tribuna, the 43-year old said that he could have died if he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Silva was taken to the hospital in a car by the same person who had hit him. He has since been released by the hospital.
“If I hadn’t been wearing a helmet, I might have died,” Silva said. “People have to be more careful in traffic. It’s hard to ride a bike in Curitiba.”
“He was super nice, stopped, and put me in his car. Other people have already appeared to help me,” Silva.
Wanderlei Silva urges people to be vigilant while riding a bicycle
Wanderlei Silva stated that car drivers don’t respect cyclists in Curitiba and despite so many people riding their bicycles, there isn’t a dedicated lane for cyclists.
“We have many more cyclists in the city and we don’t have a suitable place to ride. Unfortunately, drivers don’t respect it. I was very sad about this accident. I ask people to be more aware of traffic and not to use their cell phones, as this can cost someone’s life,” Silva said. (H/T – BJPenn.com)
This is not the first time that Silva was on the receiving end of an accident. Back in 2016 as well, he was hit by a car, and even then his life was saved by the helmet.
“I had severe injuries and don’t know what’s going to happen, but I believe in God and I know everything has a reason,” Wanderlei Silva wrote. “I will do my best and let it be what God wants. I could have died if I weren’t using a helmet. That made me rethink my life and made me grow a lot. Live well because it’s over soon. God bless you — and if you’re riding a bike, use a helmet because we never know when we’re going to need it.” (H/T – MMAFighting.com)
What’s next for Silva?
Wanderlei Silva was last seen in action back in 2018 when he fought Rampage Jackson and was knocked out in the second round.
Silva has recently said that he was interested in fighting Mike Tyson for $10 Million in a Bare Knuckle Boxing match. Tyson was offered $20 Million by BKFC president David Feldman to fight in his organization.
“There’s nothing going on right now, so a fight like this has everything to generate more money than [Floyd] Mayweather’s fights because of the entertainment and other factors,” Wanderlei Silva said. “He’s aggressive and so am I. I’m in great shape both mentally and physically, so it has everything to be a great show for everyone.”
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