Screw debates ... how's this for politicians settling a disagreement?!
39-year-old Simao Peixoto, mayor of Borba, Brazil ... participated in a 3-round slugfest with political rival, 45-year-old Erineu Alvas Da Silva, a former councilor in the area.
Da Silva had been critical of the mayor online, calling him a "scoundrel" (fightin' words!), so the politician accepted the fight ... which went down under MMA rules.
So, punches, kicks, elbows, takedowns ... all legal.
Peixoto ended up winning the fight -- which was streamed by his staff -- by decision, according to the Daily Mail .