Issue 081

November 2011

For one brief, shining moment, it looked like Fedor Emelianenko had returned to vintage form and would put an end to the losing streak that had many MMA pundits calling for his head. But in a shocking turn of events, Dan Henderson seized control of the momentum and delivered a crushing right hand that sent Emelianenko face-first into the canvas.

The first-round TKO finish came in the main event of the Strikeforce and M-1 Global: Fedor vs Henderson event, and the calls of retirement quickly escalated to a fever pitch. The stoic Russian refused to make a decision right away, instead electing to “leave it in God’s hands.” Well, God, if you’re listening, please tell Mr Emelianenko his services are still required in the cage.

Sure, Fedor has now lost three-straight fights. And yeah, that’s about three times as many as he lost in the first nine years of his career. But he will forever be a legend in mixed martial arts. His incomparable 27-fight win streak will likely never again be equaled on the sport’s biggest stage. And the former Pride champion wasn’t knocking over tomato cans on his way to the top. Instead, he was bowling through a host of notables that includes Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic, Mark Coleman, Semmy Schilt, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Heath Herring, Kevin Randleman and Andrei Arlovski, among many others.

Sure, there were bizarre fights along the way. Bouts with ‘Zuluzinho’ [Wagner da Conceicao Martins] and Hong Man Choi epitomize the definition of ‘freak show.’ And Matt Lindland is undeniably a middleweight, regardless of what he weighed in an April 2007 loss to ‘The Last Emperor.’ But MMA has always been – and always will be – as much about entertainment as sport. After tearing through Pride’s best offerings at a time when that organization boasted the best big men in the sport, Fedor deserved a few easy paychecks.

Even today, he carries an aura about him that isn’t often seen in the sport. The emotionless face, the piercing eyes, the guarded quotes during rare media appearances – it all contributes to an innate desire to know what exactly is going through the mind of this stone-cold killer. The haunting chants of his priest echoing through the arena’s loudspeakers as he walks to the cage make the hair stand on end on even the most seasoned, grizzled reporters’ arms, as it’s clear you’re watching a moment in history.

It’s like catching a New York Yankees game, only to see Babe Ruth go 0-for-4, or buying tickets for a Chicago Bulls game only to see Michael Jordan score six points and foul out in the second quarter. It’s thrilling to simply catch one live glimpse of an iconic figure in a still-developing sport, even if it is on an off night.

Look no further than one Tito Ortiz to know why exactly Emelianenko should continue to fight. On July 2nd, the former UFC light heavyweight champion entered the Octagon at UFC 132 as a 5-1 underdog against top prospect Ryan Bader. No one gave him a chance to win – not fans, not experts and likely not even UFC officials, who made it clear Ortiz was on his last leg and would be jettisoned from the promotion if (when) he came up short. 

Ortiz had been battling the same issues as Emelianenko – except his winless streak was five fights, not three, and he hadn’t tasted victory in nearly five years. The talk was eerily similar to that surrounding Fedor during his current losing streak: the sport had passed him by, and by failing to evolve during his storied career, Ortiz – in his mid-30s – needed to hang up the gloves. But then, the unbelievable happened, and Ortiz rocked Bader with an right hand before submitting him with a guillotine choke.

The air in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena was electric. Thousands of fans, those who both loved and hated Ortiz, couldn’t help but cheer for the underdog, the former champion who had somehow found a way to find greatness once again in order to shock the world.

And so it is with Emelianenko. You’d be hard-pressed right now to find a Fedor fan outside of his Red Devil camp. The Russian wouldn’t likely be favored against many heavyweights currently fighting on the Strikeforce roster, much less in the UFC’s 265lb division, where fans long clamored for him to sign. But at just 34 years old, there’s still gas left in the tank. 

Emelianenko lost to three very dangerous opponents in Henderson, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum – fighters who have a combined 57-career victories. Emelianenko may be losing a step. His reputation has unquestionably taken a hit, and he may not ever again wrap another title around his waist. But if he decides he wants to soldier on, he’s accomplished more than enough in his career to receive another shot. And who wouldn’t want to be in the building the next time Fedor flashes a moment of greatness?

By John Morgan, former Fighters Only World MMA Awards ‘Journalist of the Year’.