Fighter Profile: Fedor Emelianenko

Hometown: Stary Oskol, Belgorod, Russia

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 231 lbs

Age: 32

Current Organization: Affliction

Professional Record: 31-2 (1 NC)

His name comes up in virtually every pound-for-pound debate across all notable media outlets, he has only been defeated one time—a doctor stoppage due to an illegal blow—in a 10 year career, and he is the only elite level fighter that is commonly referred to by his first name alone.

He is Fedor Emelianenko, the best heavyweight fighter in the world today and the current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion of the world.

While the 32 year old native of Russia has built himself into a legend during the past five years of his career amongst mixed martial arts fans and fighters around the world, the modest and smaller than average heavyweight phenom rarely conducts interviews and never disrespects his opponents with talk before or after a fight, adding an air of mystery to an already-prodigal biography.

> Pro Fighting Fans allows fans to browse or buy MMA hats & merchandise as well as Affliction MMA apparel & clothing.

In 30 victories since 2000, Fedor has finished 23 of his opponents, and while he does bear a single scar on his otherwise impeccable record, most fans and pundits alike consider Emelianenko to be undefeated, as he was not only cut by an illegal move in the opening seconds of the fight, but also went on to avenge the loss in dominant fashion five years later.

With notable victories over longtime MMA standouts such as Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rodgrido Nogueira (twice), Renato Sobral, Mirko Filipovic, Matt Lindland and Andrei Arlovski, Fedor has yet to be truly tested by another fighter.

Combining a world-class Russian Sambo base—of which he is a former world champion—with punishing punching power and uncanny hand speed for any weight class, Emelianenko often makes his larger opponents appear slow, sluggish, and otherwise unprofessional in many of his more dominant outings. Data collected by the team at Fight Metric has indicated that he could also be the most difficult fighter in the world to hit, making him all the more dangerous.

Emelianenko won the Pride Heavyweight Championship in March of 2003 and went on to defend the title three times over the next two years, earning another title in the 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament along the way. He won the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship last year in beating Tim Sylvia at Affliction: Banned (Fedor vs Sylvia video) and defended it successfully in January 2009 at Affliction: Day of Reckoning.

While Emelianenko was scheduled to defend his WAMMA title against number 2 heavyweight Josh Barnett in August at Affliction Entertainment’s third Pay Per View event, his opponent has tested positive for a banned substance and will not be allowed to challenge for the belt, leaving middleweight striker Vitor Belfort the opportunity to challenge the much larger champion at Affliction Trilogy on August 1. But with the fight less than two weeks away and Belfort weighing around 195 pounds, the effort failed and along with it Affliction as an MMA promotion.

The news came as a disappointment to many in the MMA community, but it could also signal hope for an eventual stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as Affliction was not able to survive the hit Barnett’s withdrawal is likely to produce in overall Pay Per View buys. After the UFC laid millions on the table to sign Emelianenko, Fedor's team, declined the offer only to sign with Strikeforce in early August 2009. Next up for Emelianenko is the fast-rising heavyweight, undefeated Brett "The Grim" Rogers at Strikeforce: Fedor Emelianenko vs Brett Rogers in November 2009.

Unless he is defeated before retiring, or if he is unable to find worthy opponents to test his skills against, Fedor is likely to be considered the best heavyweight in the sport’s short history for a long time to come.

More Fedor Emelianenko MMA News:

• 01/24/09: Defeated Andrei Arlovski by KO at Affliction: Day of Reckoning - Fedor Emelianenko vs Andrei Arlovski video

• 08/03/09: Fedor Emelinenko Signs with Strikeforce

• 08/27/09: Strikeforce Announces Emelianenko vs Rogers as Fedor Meets NYC

• 09/17/09: MMA Returns to Primetime on CBS with Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers

• Defeated Brett Rogers by KO on Nov. 7, 2009 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers - Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers results - Fedor vs Rogers video

• Lost to face Fabricio Werdum via Submission at the Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum on June 26, 2010 - Strikeforce Fedor vs Werdum results

By Steven T. Kelliher
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
Published July 2009, Updated June 2010