Brazil: Simao Peixoto had a long fight with Erineu “Mirico” da Silva.
Brasilia, Brazil:
The mayor of a small Brazilian city took polarizing politics to another level when he played a match-fixing match against a former congressman.
Simao Peixoto, the mayor of Borba, Amazon, Brazil, has had a protracted battle with former city councilor Erineu “Mirico” da Silva.
The final straw, as reported by local media, came when Da Silva posted a video criticizing Peixoto’s management of Balneario do Lira, a riverside resort that is the main tourist attraction of the country. city.
According to Diario do Nordeste, when Da Silva filmed a video threatening the mayor with a “knockout,” Peixoto, 39, responded with a challenge: a mixed martial arts fight in an octagon. determined, complete with referees and fans, according to Diario do Nordeste.
The three-round bout was held in the early hours of Sunday in the town’s sports center, with a loud, boisterous crowd knocking out the two opponents.
Peixoto, an MMA fan who likes to appear in political ads with grappling gloves, walks into the ring, slams his head on the carpet and performs a throat slit in the direction of Da Silva, a video of the fight. War posted online shows.
The two topless men wasted no time rushing at each other, but quickly grew tired.
Da Silva knocked out the mayor twice – once with an early jab, once with a leg sweep in the third inning – but the umpires declared Peixoto the winner.
The pair seemed to have run out of grudges by the end of the match, giving each other a kind hug.
Peixoto said then the event was to promote sports. It was also for charity, with spectators asked to donate food to those in need.
But some are not amused.
Amazonas state health regulator said it will ask the city for an explanation of allowing a crowd of fans without masks to wear indoors, in violation of Covid-19 social distancing rules. .
Others criticized these men for turning Brazil’s already polarized politics into a literal war of words.
“There are only losers in this war – including healthy debates in public and, above all, voters,” writes Veja magazine.
But some Brazilians have called for the same, in a country that appears to be headed for a bad election next October between far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his nemesis, the left-wing former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
“Can you imagine Bolsonaro and Lula stepping into the ring? There’s no limit,” quipped one Twitter user.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the feed provided.)
