Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko, born September 28, 1976, has retired Mixed Martial Arts at age 35. The “Last Emperor” had a record of 34-4-1 (though actually 35-3-1*) winning numerous tournaments such as the Pride FC 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo Championship on 4 occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo championship. Fedor won the Pride FC Heavyweight title in 2003 and kept the belt until the MMA federation closed its doors and never tasted defeat for almost a decade in his legendary career. Fedor was simply the greatest Heavyweight Champion of all time!
In Emelianenko's era, he simply dominated everyone with serenity and poise like none before or after him. Fedor began his career in the Japanese RINGS promotion where he became Heavyweight Class Champion against the likes of Renato Sobral and Ricardo Arona. From there Fedor journeyed into the hallowed halls of Pride FC where he debuted against 6' 11" kickboxer, Semmy Schilt in 2002. Fedor began racking up the wins defeating Heath Herring to become the #1 contender to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's title. The mild mannered Russian met the heavily favored Brazilian but Emelianenko dominated the bout on the mat in Minotauro's stomping grounds. The “Last Emperor” became the Pride FC Heavyweight Champion by Unanimous Decision. Fedor defended the title 4 times before entering the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix. In under a round's worth of work, Emelianenko won 3 bouts to rematch Nogueira in the finals but an errant headbutt caused a bad cut on Fedor and the bout was ruled a No Contest. Fedor and Antonio would settle things at Pride Shockwave where the Last Emperor again won by Unanimous Decision. Another win later Fedor was to meet the unstoppable kickboxer name Mirko Filipovic in what was at the time the biggest bout ever in MMA! Again, Emelianenko dominated his opponent with ground and pound to retain the title. Pride FC would eventually fold into bankruptcy but not after Fedor had dominated the best Heavyweights in the world going 12-0 in the heyday of MMA.
Fedor formed and instant dislike to UFC President Dana White and the two parties could not come to terms forcing Emelianenko to travel the world for fights. The Last Emperor defeated Matt Lindland in Bodog by armbar, Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski in Affliction by 1 round beatdowns, and finally with Strikeforce defeating Brett Rogers in his debut by TKO. Now Fedor was 31-0-1 in MMA and I will now explain my record of the G.O.A.T. *Though some see the bout with Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in 2000 as a loss, it is in fact, not. Kohsaka cut Fedor open with an illegal elbow which should have disqualified him. Since the format was a tournament, the RINGS judges awarded Tsuyoshi the bout so they could complete their tournament even though it broke their own rules. It wasn't a win by RINGS own rule definition and thus, is not a loss.
Fedor then fought Fabricio Werdum and though he knocked his opponent down, he got over confident and hung around in Werdum's guard getting caught in a triangle and tapping out for his 1st career loss. Emelianenko then got smashed next out against Antonio Silva who outweighed him by 35 lbs. or more and kept fighting though the doctors stopped the fight due to cuts and badly swollen eyes. Fedor was not out of that fight. Fedor then met Dan Henderson in a special attraction where he had "Hendo" flailing, hurt, and on his way out, when Dan threw a hail mary that put Emelianenko on skates. Dan followed it up and Fedor wasn't allowed the room to fight back as the fight was called. This horrible run of back luck seemed to end Fedor's career as everyone called for his retirement, but it was only the end of his losing streak. Emelianenko refused to go into that good night instead returning to the mother land where he defeated Jeff Monson by Unanimous Decision in M-1 Global. Fedor then fought and KO'd Satoshi Ishii in Japan giving the Japanese fans one last look at the conquerer that once ruled their land. Finally, Fedor returned to mother Russia to fight in front of his homeland fans, his President Vladimir Putin, and his wife and kids as he KO'd Pedro Rizzo to end his legendary storied career.
Emelianenko Notes & Achievements:
- Fedor trained and teamed with the Red Devil Sport Club which included brother Aleksander Emelianenko and MMA talent Gegard Mousasi.
- Fedor never lost a decision.
- Fedor never lost a belt.
- Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Fight Magazine, About.com, & MMA Fighting, "Fighter of the Decade"
- Sports Illustrated & MMA Fighting, "Fight of the Decade"
- 2009 KO of the Year
- Heavyweight and Fighter of the Year, 6 times
- Sambo Combat Champion Gold Medalist
- 2009 Russian Male Athlete of the Year
- 2008 Olympic Torchbearer
- First Class Golden Order of the Romanov Family of St. Nicholas 2 in 2012
- Brock Lesnar held the UFC Championship longer than any other winner at 707 days defending it only twice. Fedor held the Pride FC belt for 1,036 days defending it 4 times.
- Fedor has beaten 5 former UFC Heavyweight Champions 7 times.
- 10 (T)KO's, 18 Submissions, & 8 Decisions in 39 bouts.
- Fedor held 5 MMA Championships.
- Ranked #1 “Pound4Pound” fighter for 7 years.
- Entrance song, Oy, to ne vecher (The Cossack's Parable) by Andrey Zheleznyakov
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