If you are an MMA fan you know who the “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko is.
He’s that average looking guy with a blank stare in front of the media, or sometimes a smirk. He’s the guy with the tatted up brother who is rumored to be connected to the Russian mafia, and has been arrested several times. Fedor has been recognized publicly by Russia’s political front man Vladimir Putin and the Russian President even attended some of his matches. Fedor is in some ways the pride of Russian combat sports and Russia’s fighting icon to the world.
Despite the success of the Klitschko brothers in boxing, neither of them has ever been discussed as the pound for pound GOAT, or greatest of all time in their sport. Fedor was and maybe still is the MMA consensus #1 for hardcore fans ignoring others in discussions like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, and Ronda Rousey. His record speaks for itself even though he faded shortly before retiring.
Fedor was 31-1 until until Fabricio Werdum shocked the world and submitted him in Strikeforce back in June in 2010. His one loss was for the RINGS organization in a tournament and it came via TKO, doctor stoppage. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka was the man who gave him the loss by opening an existing cut with an elbow 17 seconds in to his fight. It was a missed looping punch and Kohsaka’s elbow hit the exact spot Ricardo Arona opened up in his previous fight. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would win the tournament and what a rivalry that started for Fedor.
Here are five fights that will define Fedor Emilianenko’s legacy.
5. PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
If you have a hardcore MMA fanatic friend ask them about the “Randleplex”. Kevin Randleman was simply a beast at the time he faced Fedor and an accomplished mixed martial artist. The fight was a pick em match-up because of Kevin Randleman’s sheer strength, and he was an established name in the US MMA scene. this little, average bodied, and silent Russian that dared to square off against the blonde African-American destruction machine took one of the nastiest suplexes ever seen in an MMA competition – and came back to win via kimura at 1:33 of round 1.
The “Randleplex”
4. Affliction: Banned, 2008.
For years former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia had been campaigning for a fight with the #1 universally ranked Emelianenko. In Tim’s head he imagined that PrideFC was terrified to make a cross promotion match-up, but it was a forgone conclusion as to what the outcome of that eventual match up would be. When Tim finally got his chance at Fedor in 2008 after getting released from the UFC it didn’t go well for Sylvia at all. The fight saw Timmy doing his usual duck walking and throwing slow, ugly jabs while Fedor pretended the fight was going to be competitive. Fedor dropped a bomb on Tim’s chin and then finished him off with a rear naked choke submission in just over 30 seconds of round one. Tim would later reportedly call it a fluke choke and wanted another shot. Needless to say nobody wanted to see that pairing again.
Tim Sylvia gets embarrassed by Fedor in the Affliction promotion
3. RINGS King of Kings 2000 Tournament Opening Round. Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B.
I would bet quite a few people would disagree with this fight being on the list at first glance. This was the first time Emelianenko was taken in to deep waters and he really was swimming with a shark.
Ricardo Arona has been called a blanket, lay and pray expert, and a generally awful person. One thing he has always been was dangerous. Fedor went two rounds with Arona before the fight was declared a draw. Much like The Ultimate Fighter TV show format, if the fight goes two rounds to a draw, a third one is fought. Fedor came out on top and established himself as an equally dangerous fighter.
Ricardo Arona vs. Fedor Emelianenko, 2000
2. Pride Final Conflict 2005
This event was one of the most anticipated events in MMA history. Challenger and MMA legend himself Mirko Cro Cop finally signed to fight champion Fedor in 2005. The fight was first attempted in 2003, but after a contract dispute Fedor left Pride and began fighting for the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye organization in 2003. In this hiatus Cro Cop lost a title fight to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and then was knocked out by Kevin Randleman in his next fight. Cro Cop made a comeback and established himself as the #1 contender and headed for a collision course with Emelianenko.
In this fight Fedor was busted open and had his nose broken early and his rib section visibly bruised and battered. As the fight went on and Fedor began to impose his will we really got a good look at his greatness. The Last Emperor defeated perhaps his most dangerous opponent by unanimous decision.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Cro Cop
1. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira series
Of all of his opponents, perhaps none was more skilled than Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Fedor first fought for and won the Pride Heavyweight Championship in 2003. For 20 minutes Emelianenko used brutal ground and pound against Antonio, which shocked many. The mass majority of MMA fans considered Nogueira uneatable because of his submission skills and unrivaled cardio. Fedor announced his arrrival.
After the first fight a rematch was scheduled for and occurred on 15 August, 2004. This time the fight was declared a no contest after Fedor received a nasty cut above his eye from an accidental headbutt. The disappointment would not last long for MMA fans.
In December of 2004 we finally saw the rematch between Fedor and Mintauro. This time was no different and Emelianenko was again the winner and champion by unanimous decision in another instant classic.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 3
Do you agree with our list?