Fedor Emelianenko - At a Crossroads
The Mixed Martial Arts community could almost be divided into two groups, those who love Fedor Emelianenko and those who call him overrated, it would seemingly be evenly split with few people falling in between. Emelianenko was for a long time the world consensus heavyweight by practically everybody outside of UFC President Dana White. While some still consider him the best heavyweight, his mystique has somewhat diminished.
Between 2001 and 2010, Fedor went on a 28 fight unbeaten streak and with a win over Brett Rogers in November of 2009, he bumped his total record to 32-1 with one no contest. Emelianenko’s lone controversial loss was due to a cut in a tournament, causing a lot of fans to consider him undefeated. Throughout his win streak he earned the Pride heavyweight title, the Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix, and the WAMMA heavyweight title while boasting wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria (twice), Mirko Cro Crop, Andrei Arlovski, Mark Coleman, and Tim Sylvia. For a long time Emelianenko was considered the pound for pound best fighter in the world by most experts.
However, things have changed for the last reigning Pride heavyweight champion, as a recent defeat at the hands of Fabricio Werdum have given his critics the firepower they’ve long been looking for. Fedor was submitted via triangle choke less than two minutes into the fight after rocking his opponent. While the loss was legitimate, it’s hard to deny the greatness of what Emelianenko has accomplished. But now the man known as “The Last Emperor” finds himself at a crossroads. Strikeforce and Fedor’s management have hinted at two options they are considering, one would be a rematch with the man who has just defeated him, Fabricio Werdum, another is a fight with Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Whoever Emelianenko fights, expect him to be sidelined until 2011, with Fabricio injured and Alistair already set to face Antonio Silva in October.
The Werdum rematch would be the most logical scenario, giving him a chance to redeem a loss and prove to fans that he is the same man that ruled the heavyweight division. Though Emelianenko was submitted, it has nothing to do with his ground game lacking and more so to do with him just being reckless and going for the finish. Fedor should still have the advantage in the standup and wrestling abilities and it would be a good fight for him to get back in to title contention before immediately getting a shot at the champion coming off a loss.
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It is plausible that Strikeforce would give “The Last Emperor” a title fight coming off a loss. He still has a lot of name recognition in the sport and a Overeem vs. Emelianenko fight would hold the most market value for the organization. This fight would be a much larger challenge for Fedor, as Alistair holds a significant size advantage on him as well as K-1 level striking partnered with a competent ground game. It has been a fight fans have been desiring to see for quite some time.
By Ryan Silva
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer