Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist (MMA), sambist, and judoka, currently competing for Rizin Fighting Federation and Bellator MMA.
He has won championships and accolades in multiple sports, most notably in MMA Pride Fighting Championships (heavyweight champion 2003-2007), FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship (Heavyweight Champion 2002, 2005, 2007), and Russian Judo Federation National Championship (Bronze medal 1998, 1999).
Emelianenko has earned numerous MMA accolades. Sports Illustrated, among other publications, named him the top MMA fighter of the 2000s.
Emelianenko is currently a staff member of Russia’s Presidential Council on Physical Fitness & Sports.
On 14 July 2015, after a three-year hiatus from mixed martial arts, Emelianenko announced that he was returning to active competition. As of May 10, 2022, he is #3 in the Bellator Heavyweight Rankings.
Why did Fedor Emelianenko never go to UFC?
Fedor Emelianenko never went to UFC because Fedor said the core problem lay with the UFC’s “one-sided” contracts, which limited his autonomy.
“The UFC contract was just draconian and oppressive,” Fedor said in an impromptu Periscope session with a Russian sports outlet. “I’m not ready to sign such an enslaving contract. First of all, they should show respect for the fighters—the kind of respect I receive in Japan.”
The joyous energy that surrounded the initial announcement of Fedor’s return had withered, particularly following the disappointing announcement that he would face 2-0, Jaideep Singh, in his first fight back.
Fan support quickly transformed into unabashed resentment for one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history. Matters would only get worse from there.
Why is Fedor considered the goat?
At his peak, he was as likely to knock an opponent out as to submit them. He was Pride’s heavyweight champion and Rings’ Openweight champion before he dipped his toes in the US scene with Strikeforce and Bellator.
“There is no doubt Fedor is the greatest heavyweight of all time,” McCarthy said.
“Fedor was basically 32-0 when he finally lost to Fabricio Werdum. You’re going to lose somewhere along the way, you make mistakes in this sport. But it was the lineage of everyone he fought in Pride and everything he did, how long he did, consecutively getting wins all time.
“You look at what he’s done, there’s no heavyweight that has been as long-lasting as far as consecutive wins in a row. He’s fought for a long time too.
“There’s a couple of guys who have done that, but not in the winning fashion as Fedor. There are some great heavyweights out there.
“Velasquez is a great heavyweight, Miocic is a great heavyweight, but they couldn’t do it and maintain wins the way Fedor did. If we’re talking about heavyweights, there’s no doubt.”