Two things that are surprising about this sparring video from 2011. One, how much Werdum’s striking has improved over the years. And two, what a badass Wanderlei Silva is.

This video was published just after Werdum submitted legend Fedor Emelianenko so it’s not like he was inexperienced at the time.

Wanderlei pours it on him though, never giving him a chance to breath with his overwhelming, berserker style of attack.

Werdum did have some success early on though, landing a couple of decent jabs, but once ‘The Axe Murderer’ closes the distance and starts landing Werdum doesn’t have much of an answer. Although it is a faux pas to call someone a winner and loser of a sparring session, it is clear Wanderlei got the better of Werdum in this sparring clip.

Werdum’s striking has improved dramatically since this video however. He really didn’t start coming into his own as a striker until his second run in the UFC. His striking, in particular his leg kicks and clinch game, were best displayed in his fight with Roy Nelson.

And who could forget his flying knee knockout of K1 Champion Mark Hunt at UFC 180 which won him the Interim Heavyweight Championship.

And his hands looked on par when he boxed up Cain Velasquez before submitting him when he unified his Championship at UFC 188 in June of 2015.

Meanwhile Wanderlei Silva has always been regarded as a dangerous striker. He won the Pride Middleweight Championship at Pride 17 in his victory over Kazushi Sakuraba and held the title for nearly six years after, knocking out nearly everyone in his path with his aggressive, ferocious style of attack that you see glimpses of in the sparring clip.

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He last competed against Brian Stann in March of 2013 where he won by knockout in the second round.