Wanderlei Silva Set For Rizin World Grand Prix

Wanderlei Silva is confirmed as the first fighter for Rizin Fighting Federation’s World Grand Prix. Bloody Elbow reports that Rizin head Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced Silva as the first fighter for the eight-man, openweight tournament that will take place over their next two events.

The shows will take place in September and on New Year’s Eve, with the first four quarterfinal fights taking place in September and the semifinals and finals taking place at the later card. Sakakibara said at the press conference announcing the news that the Grand Prix is just the start in terms of “unique events that only [Rizin FF] can do.”

Silva said at the press event, “[Sakakibara] asked me what weight I wanted and I said open because I want to give every fighter a chance to beat me. Any fighter willing to fight me will get stomped in the face and kicked in the head.”