Issue 134

November 2015

No fighter has ever cultivated an aura of invincibility in MMA quite like Fedor Emelianenko. As he stands on the cusp of a shock return from retirement Fighters Only recounts the career of an icon 

While fans will debate about the greatest fighter of all time forever, there is no question about its most dominant: Fedor Emelianenko. For almost a decade, the Russian ruled the heavyweight division and built a remarkable unbeaten streak. His reign atop the sport’s grandest division was so absolute, he was long considered the world’s premier pound-for-pound fighter too. This is how the Russian’s rule over MMA led him to be known as ‘The Last Emperor’

RISE TO POWER

From 2001 until 2010, the man from Stary Oskol – a city near Russia’s western borders, 680km directly south of Moscow – put together a legendary run. In becoming the world’s number one 205lb-plus fighter, he developed a reputation as an unbeatable juggernaut, which led to a sense of awe and excitement around his fights that has never been matched. People didn’t know what to expect, except that they were likely to witness something remarkable. 

But it wasn’t always that way. When Fedor entered Japan’s premier promotion, Pride FC, in 2002, there was no expectation that he would become the dominant force in the sport. Although he had impressed early in his career and dismantled six-foot-eleven, 290lb kickboxer Semmy Schilt on his debut, most predicted Heath Herring use him as a stepping stone to a title shot. 

‘The Texas Crazy Horse’ was talented fighter – among the best around at the time. You could have been forgiven for favoring him. Lean, mean and bouncing on the balls of his feet compared to a pudgy man with a cold, blank stare. Only one man in the ring looked ready to fight. 

But Herring was dismantled during a savage 10-minute first round. He just couldn’t withstand the relentless ground ‘n’ pound beatdown inflicted by Fedor. It was an outstanding performance. Looping, but accurate punches smashed into Herring’s face over and over until the bell finally offered a reprieve and gave doctors the opportunity to put a merciful stop to the action. 

Emelianenko’s breakout display put the world on notice. His next win would mark his coronation. His opponent, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the Pride champion, was the immovable object to his irresistible force and was considered by many to be unbeatable. No matter how much damage the Brazilian took, he would usually persevere and claim victory with his world-class submission skills. 

But Fedor confounded this perception as he jumped straight into the jaws of the lion to rain hellfire down on ‘Big Nog’s face. After all, as Fedor was aware, it’s hard to attempt an opportunistic triangle choke when your head’s being bounced off the canvas.

Three rounds later and, though Nogueira wasn’t stopped, he had been humbled and defeated. Fedor was now on top of the world, earning a championship belt that no one man would ever manage to take from him.

ALL ATTRIBUTES

By unleashing a beating on Nogueira, Fedor continued to build his legend as an untouchable champion. He earned his terrifying reputation in the most pure way imaginable, by dismantling every opponent who had the misfortune to step into the ring with him. 

No one was safe. He was possibly the first mixed martial artist who was a true master of all disciplines, which is even more remarkable when you consider that, even today, most heavyweights are not known for their well-rounded attributes.

To compliment his concussive ground game, Fedor also had the ability to snatch a submission from any position, the takedown chops to get his opponents to the mat and the standup to set everything up or simply hurt another man with equal effect.

He was outlandishly aggressive as well, and liked to beat the very best at their own game. As well as taking on Nogueira in his world, he gave feared former K-1 kickboxer Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ a clinic on the feet, and submitted Mark Coleman – ‘The Godfather of Ground ‘n’ Pound’ – from his back. Twice.

Even as he moved beyond his peak years, Emelianenko managed to add another string to his bow and become a one-punch knockout artist. After his 36-second knockdown-to-submission manhandling of Tim Sylvia in 2008, he swatted a flying Andrei Arlovski out of the air with a perfectly-placed right hand, and then practically beheaded Brett Rogers in the Strikeforce cage with one overhand right.

But it wasn’t just his icy cold stare and no-mercy assaults that proved his greatness and inspired a devoted following. A friendly hand and a smile for his fallen foes almost always followed Fedor’s wins. Trash talk didn’t exist in his lexicon. His sportsmanship and humility attracted plaudits from fans and fighters, and gave him an air of class befitting of his regal status atop the combat world. 

THE TERMINATOR

Emelianenko’s fabled greatness was enhanced by his aversion to vulnerability. When he was briefly threatened, the culprit was made to pay in the worst way. He was MMA’s original Terminator. Hurt me, yes, but I’ll be back!

Japanese 250lb wrestler Kazuyuki Fujita was only man who came close to knocking Fedor out in a Pride ring. A wild right hand in their 2003 fight made the Russian dance on rubber legs – and had the watching world either holding its collective breath or completely freaking out. But even in a compromised state, his retort was emphatic. He beat the holy hell out of ‘Ironhead,’ then dragged him to the mat by the neck for a rear naked choke that looked more like a decapitation attempt. 

A year later, former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman hit a slam on Fedor that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the WWE. He launched him into the air with a high-amplitude suplex, and dumped him straight onto his head. That would have killed most mortal men, but it was like Fedor was from a different planet – one of glorious fighting deities with a thirst for swift and terrible retribution. He was seemingly unhurt, and ready to make ‘The Monster’ pay. 

Despite the cataclysmic impact he’d just been subjected to by the ‘Randleplex,’ the champ immediately swept his opponent onto his back. Then, he cranked his American assailant’s arm to within millimeters of breaking point with a eye-watering, wince-inducing kimura. Randleman screamed in pain and tapped almost instantly. Yet more Fedor magic. 

Rather than exposing his flaws, these comebacks from the brink of defeat only enhanced Fedor’s unbeatable reputation. The striking and and grappling of ordinary human beings couldn’t stop him.

THE MIGHTY FALL

All good things must come to an end, and this tale is no different. After 28 fights unbeaten, Fedor fell to Fabricio Werdum’s giant-killing BJJ, then Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva’s suffocating mount, followed by Dan Henderson’s megaton right hand. Somehow the most dominant fighter on Earth had stopped dominating, and instead slipped to a previously unimaginable 0-3 losing run.

Three defeats meant Emelianenko was past his best and retirement loomed large. But his demise shouldn’t take away from his previous accomplishments. He is no different to other legendary champions. Fighters lose. BJ Penn, Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva – they all saw their tremendous runs dramatically come to an end. If Chris Weidman and Jon Jones fight through to their mid 30s, they will surely feel the sting of the generation that follows them too. 

However, recently, it appears an itch has manifested on the Russian’s competitive spirit that he just has to scratch. There is talk of a return and while he’s unlikely to be the force of nature he ones was, that’s not to say Fedor can’t compete at the highest level once more. Other former heavyweight champions, and even some of his former victims like Arlovski and Cro Cop, have enjoyed resurgences this year. Perhaps there’s also one last run left in The Last Emperor yet.

Can crusher?

Perhaps no athlete has inspired such ferocious forum debate as Fedor Emelianenko. For every passionate supporter, there seems to be an equally ardent detractor. One of the biggest arguments against his status as the greatest ever heavyweight is that he often fought opponents who were well below his level. 

It’s true that some of his career could have been better spent, but his legacy has been diluted also through revisionist history. The fact many athletes saw their stock drop dramatically after Fedor pulverized them doesn’t mean they weren’t seen as legitimate challengers at the time. 

Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers were ranked fourth, second and sixth in the world respectively when their turn came. Even Kevin Randleman faced Fedor on the back of a stunning KO of world number three Mirko Cro Cop. Fedor also successfully smashed the two undeniably second and third best heavyweights of his era, when they were both in their primes: ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira, twice, and Cro Cop. There were no stiffer tests around, and Fedor could only destroy what was put in front of him.

The emperor’s old clothes

Hard-core MMA fans celebrated every mundane aspect of Fedor’s time in the spotlight. Even an old sweatshirt he wore on multiple press tours became the subject of a fanatical online following. ‘The Glorious Sweater of Absolute Victory’ inspired feverish excitement whenever it was spotted, which frankly confused the great man. Yet perhaps he was playing dumb and there was more to the GSOAV than met the eye? Strangely, Emelianenko stopped wearing it around the time of his three-fight losing streak in Strikeforce. Maybe it was the secret to his success all along?