Issue 075

May 2011

The myth of Fedor Emelianenko’s invincibility was brutally exposed in the first round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament. For many hardcore MMA fans, the Russian sambo fighter will remain a legend.

Yet his often vociferous, partisan supporters were strangely quiet in the debates on the Internet after the Russian mixed martial artist, once a seemingly unbeatable force, appeared to age suddenly against Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. A decade without defeat – then in seven months, the bubble bursts.

But the last three, even four, years merited investigation. I’ve always argued that he was fighting fallen champions rather than the best. His management team handled him too carefully, refusing to expose him to the UFC. In the heat of battle in New Jersey, Emelianenko’s watery myth evaporated. The occasion compounded the loss to Fabricio Werdum midway through 2010, his first in a decade. Even that ‘original’ loss had been on cuts from illegal blows.

The truth is that we don’t know when Fedor aged. But he has. His largesse around the middle added to the mystique. When he won, his sleepy nonchalance added to the legend. But as he took a pounding, that same detachment looked more like a creeping vulnerability.

There have been the arguments that he may now be a light heavyweight, rather than a heavyweight, but he would merely be a top five contender, I’d wager, amongst the best in that class. Fedor’s end could have been so different. In MMA, it really is ‘carpe diem,’ seize the day. The sport is developing rapidly, technique and athleticism evolving so quickly, there is no time to step outside the loop. Fedor now faces the same prospect as a generation he defeated in Pride: how to age gracefully. 

Wanderlei Silva, Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’. Legends all, but now ageing. Fedor was standing still while the sport moved on. It has now passed him by.

Fight for The Troops… 

There may have been something slightly incongruous about UFC’s Fight for the Troops as an international event on television (it even went out in the Middle East), due to the intramural patriotism and bonhomie between the UFC’s rostered fighters and the serving men and women in khaki camouflage. But the event in January served to show several things. Not least, the UFC organization has displayed an admirable commitment to its country’s troops, and whatever one’s views on the global fight against terrorism, and the manner in which it is tackled, there is no denying Zuffa’s underlying support for the US citizens who serve in the military. Indeed, MMA has a close relationship with serving soldiers. 

In the Octagon itself, there were three extremely significant fights and I see two of the three winners as becoming serious players. Former football player Matt Mitrione – comic and fighter – signaled himself as a rapidly developing heavyweight, who looks to have surprising athleticism. Cheick Kongo, mooted to be his next opponent, could be a step up too soon, however. Mark Hominick looks a real battler, and was exceptional against George Roop. The tough little guy will need all his steel against the flamboyant, and brutal fighting style of José Aldo when they meet for the UFC’s first featherweight title fight. Nor do I blame Melvin Guillard for calling out top contenders in the UFC’s lightweight division after he busted through Evan Dunham – no one else has done that – and the kid now merits being given a shot against one of the top three contenders in the division.

Euro moves as UFC look at Sweden event

In spite of the consternation from European fans over the paucity of UFC events announced for this year, I understand that there are plans to have one event early this summer, most likely in England, with three events in September, October and November. “It is simply how the stars align,” said a UFC spokesperson. Intriguingly, the UFC could be opening its account in Sweden in the autumn, too, which will give a chance for the Scandinavian countries to showcase their emerging talent. With the Unified Rules in that country approved for 2011, Sweden could become the fourth European nation to host a UFC event after Britain, Germany and Ireland. The logical choice as a venue would be the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm. It has hosted NHL games and major musical concerts, and has seating of around 14,000.

British MMA film in the offing…

Michael Bisping may come in for his fair share of flak, but he certainly gets airtime when it comes to television, and film directors securing his services. While over one million viewers watched Bisping’s cameos on late-night soap spin-off Hollyoaks Later, my spies tell me that a British MMA film is at the planning stages, with Bisping having been approached to play a part in it. I’m told it will be ‘gritty, and realistic,’ with a highly acclaimed director/producer involved. About time. Move over Guy Ritchie…  

Gareth A Davies is MMA and Boxing Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, London