Fedor Emelianenko

MMAstatsbox
name=Fedor Emelianenko

---

nick=The Last Emperorcite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=150
title=On fights, brothers, and a meeting with the President
date=May 8, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-05]
height=height|m=1.83cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?fighterID=1500
title=Fight Finder: Fedor Emelianenko
year=2007
accessdate=2007-06-05
publisher=Sherdog]
weight=convert|106.5|kg|abbr=oncite web
last=Nastenko
first=Georgiy
title="It's possible to win even lying on your back"
url=http://www.fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=146
format=Reprint
publisher=Rossiya
date=February 21, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-04
quote=Ivan is 18, and though he has a lot of talent, he does not have enough drive and ambition. However, he is not shooting for huge success either. At the very least, he is not ready for any sacrifices in order to reach certain results, unlike me, for example. And that's normal. For each his own. Sport, especially martial arts, is not something people should be forced to do. —Fedor Emelianenko]
nationality=Russian [cite web
last=Gross
first=Josh
title=Emelianenko motivated to represent himself in U.S.
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=2880184
publisher=ESPN
date=May 26, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-15
quote=I want to stay on top and show people that Russian fighters are very good... I want to represent myself and to be honored by the Russian people. —Fedor Emelianenko]
birthdate=Birth date and age|1976|9|28
fightingfrom=Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russiacite web
url=http://www.extremeprosports.com/full_contact_fighting/fedor_emelianenko.html
title=Fedor Emelianenko Bio / Training / Fighting Techniques
last=Rousseau
first=Robert
year=2006
accessdate=2007-06-04
publisher=ExtremeProSports.com]
hometown= flagicon|USSR Rubizhne, Luhansk, Ukrainian SSR, USSRcite web
url=http://www.fedor.bel.ru/bio/index_eng.shtml
title=Official website - biography
year=2004
accessdate=2007-06-05]
fightteam=Red Devil Sport Club
fightstyle=Sambo, Judo, Boxing.
wins=29Emelianenko's victorious bout against Martin Lazarev is not present in either the Sherdog or the Full Contact Fighter databases.]
ko=6
submissions=16
decisions=7
losses=1
ko-losses=1
nocontest=1|

Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko (IPA2|'fʲodər jemilʲja'nʲenkə, Russian: Фëдор Владимирович Емельяненко, sometimes romanized as Fyodor Yemelyanenkocite web
url=http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=15790
title=Russian Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Wins Fame and Fortune in the Caged Rings of Japan
last=Humber
first=Yuriy
publisher=The St. Petersburg Times
date=October 11, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-26] ) (born September 28, 1976) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist, the current World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight champion and the last holder of the PRIDE heavyweight championship.

Emelianenko has been considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world for the last five years by many major publications, including ESPN, the "Orange County Register", The Fight Network, the "Houston Chronicle", and "The Wrestling Observer" [Additional details:
*cite web
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/columns/story?id=2983151
title=Surprise! Emelianenko tops the P4P charts
publisher=ESPN
date=August 22, 2007
accessdate=2007-08-22
*cite web
url=http://www.fcfighter.com/ranking
title=Full Contact Fighter world rankings
accessdate=2007-06-05
publisher=Full Contact Fighter
*cite web
url=http://www.insidefighting.com/mma_rankings.aspx/cat=1
title=Mixed Martial Arts rankings: heavyweight
accessdate=2007-06-05
publisher=Inside Fighting
*cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4081&zoneid=13
title=MMA Weekly World Rankings Updated
date=June 6, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-06
publisher=MMA Weekly
*cite web
url=http://www.nokaut.com/?id=54&lang=e&cur=eur
title=Top 10 Fighter Rankings
publisher=Nokaut
date=August 18, 2007
accessdate=2007-08-18
*cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings.asp?n_id=9208&my_page=2
title=Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
publisher=Sherdog
date=September 25, 2007
accessdate=2007-10-03
*cite web
url=http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=dd-mmarankingsfinal072607
title=The Yahoo! Sports MMA Top 10
last=Doyle
first=Dave
date=July 26, 2007
accessdate=2007-08-22] cite episode
url=http://www.hdnetfights.com/insidemma.php
title=Inside MMA 219
series=Inside MMA
serieslink=Inside MMA
network=HDNet
city=Dallas, Texas
airdate=2008-05-09
minutes=51:30] . He was also chosen as the greatest fighter of all time across all weight classes by the expert panel of the television show Inside MMA. [http://www.hd.net/insidemma.html]

He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the PRIDE 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo Championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national judo championships.

Biography

Fedor Emelianenko was born in 1976 in Rubizhne, Luhansk, part of the Luhansk Oblast region of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union. His family moved to Stary Oskol, Russian SFSR in 1978. His mother, Olga Fedorovna, is a teacher and his father, Vladimir Alexandrovich Emelianenko, was a steel worker. [cite web
url=http://www.m1mixfight.com/info/publications/2007/12/26/finding-fedor-part-I/
title=Finding Fedor part I
publisher=M-1 Global
date=December 26, 2007
accessdate=2008-04-08] Emelianenko is the second child in the family and has an older sister and two younger brothers, including professional mixed martial artist Aleksander Emelianenko. His brother Ivan is currently in training, although he does not compete at his brothers' level.

Emelianenko finished high school in 1991 and graduated with honors from a professional trade school in 1994. From 1995 until 1997, he served in the Russian Army as a military firefighter. In 1999, he married his wife Oksana, and their first daughter Masha was born in the same year. In 2006, Emelianenko broke up with his wife and started a new family with his girlfriend Marina.cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/?id=173
title=«Поддержка близких придаёт сил и уверенности, и в то же время ещё большей ответственности за результат…»
language=Russian
date=January 1, 2008
accessdate=2007-04-08] On December 29, 2007, his second daughter Vasilisa was born. In his spare time, he likes to read, listen to music and draw. [cite web
url=http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/9735644
title=The Biofiles: Fedor Emelianenko
last=Malinowski
first=Scoop
date=October 16, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-05
publisher=CBS SportsLine] [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/index.shtml?id=81
title=Федор Емельяненко не перестает удивлять своих поклонников
language=Russian
date=June 20, 2005
accessdate=2007-08-14]

Martial arts background and training regimen

thumb|right|266px|Emelianenko_demonstrates_his_ground and pound style at a 2006 seminar in Atlantic City.Emelianenko's enthusiasm for fighting began with Sambo and judo. He initially trained under Vasiliy Ivanovich Gavrilov, and later under his current coach, Vladimir Mihailovich Voronov. Voronov remembers that ten-year-old Fedor was relatively weak physically and did not have an innate grappling talent; instead, his biggest strength was his perseverance and strong will. [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=49
title=Article from a Japanese magazine "Number"
publisher=Number
format=Reprint
date=July 19, 2004
accessdate=2007-06-10] cite web
url=http://www.mmaru.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3
title=Amsterdam interview
publisher=MMAru.org
date=August 8, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-26
quote=I never stood out with my genetics and don't think I had some extraordinary talent. Everything I managed to do with hard training... I didn't train wrestling, I gathered together many things, created something like a little gym for myself and worked on my physical training and of course was running cross. All the time I was working to become stronger. And I wasn't in a special sport forces [sic] . —Fedor Emelianenko]

Emeliananko's official biography erroneously states that he trained in Sambo during his army years. However, he has specified in a 2005 interview that this is incorrect, and his training in the army was limited to running and strength training in a makeshift gym he put together himself.

In 1997, Emelianenko received the official certification of a "Master of Sports" in Sambo and judo and became part of the Russian national team. [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=138
title=Radio interview with Fedor Emelianenko on Radio Sport
local=Moscow
date=January 11, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-10] In 1998, after earning a bronze medal in the Russian Judo Championship, he started studying striking with arms and legs under coach Alexander Vasilievich Michkov. Emelianenko started competing in combat sambo and mixed martial arts in 2000 at the age of 25, because he "didn't have any money". [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/?id=50
title=Интервью журналу Fighter Magazine
language=Russian
format=Reprint
date=July 30, 2004
accessdate=2007-06-10] [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/interviews.asp?n_id=8358
title=Aleksander Emelianenko: MMA's First Sibling
last=Kogan
first=Evgeni
publisher=Sherdog
date=July 21, 2007
accessdate=2007-07-21]

Emelianenko trains two or three times per day to maintain and improve his skills. He particularly utilizes basic training methods like running, ropes and deadweightlifting. Emelianenko used to weight train extensively, but in 1999 he almost completely substituted his weight exercises with sport-specific training in grappling, boxing, and kickboxing. His strength training consists of daily pull-ups, push ups on parallel bars, and crunches. [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/?id=8
title=«Я не жестокий и не грубый»
language=Russian
date=July 28, 2003
accessdate=2007-06-10] Emelianenko also runs twice a day every day for a combined distance of 12–15 kilometers (7.5–9.3 mi), [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=33
title=Interview with Fedor Emelyanenko
date=March 17, 2004
accessdate=2007-06-10] and is a proponent of high altitude training, travelling to Kislovodsk, Russia with his team once or twice a year to train in high altitude.

Emelianenko's team consists of grappling coach Voronov, boxing coach Michkov, Muay Thai coach Ruslan Nagnibeda, doctor, masseur and psychologist Oleg Neustroev, his training partners, including Roman Zentsov, and, until June 2006, his brother Aleksander. [cite web
url=http://fedor.bel.ru/?id=131
title=Уже в марте российские поклонники смешанных единоборств смогут, не выезжая за границу, стать болельщиками турнира «Россия против Америки»
language=Russian
date=December 4, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-10
quote=Mixed martial arts fans won't have to go abroad... We have not trained together for over 6 months. —Fedor Emelianenko]

In 2005 Emelianenko started paying special attention to improving his kicking technique. He trained Muay Thai with kickboxer Ernesto Hoost in Netherlands, [cite web
url=http://www.graciemag.com/?c=147&a=3191
publisher=Gracie Magazine
last=Dunlop
first=Marcelo
title=Brazilians united to stop Fedor
date=November 29, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-10
quote=Fedor is now in Holland all the time training Muay Thai with Ernesto Hoost. —Pedro Rizzo] and added a Muay Thai coach, Ruslan Nagnibeda, “Seikin-do” league 78 kg title holder from 1998 to 2002 (33-3-1) and a former Tula State University Muay Thai instructor, to his team. Recently, Emelianenko has expressed interest in training young athletes.

In November 2007, Emelianenko competed once again in the World Combat Sambo Championships, which brought together 780 representatives from 45 countries. When his opponent in the quarterfinals failed to show up, he received a bye to the semifinals, where he submitted a Bulgarian fighter with a choke in 40 seconds. The other finalist declined to compete, defaulting victory to Emelianenko.cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9904
title=Fedor Defends Combat Sambo World Championship
last=Leidecker
first=Tim
publisher=Sherdog
date=November 10, 2007
accessdate=2007-11-10]

In a recent interview, Emelianenko said he doesn't consider himself to be the best pound-for-pound fighter. [http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-fedor081308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns] Saying "I don’t consider myself on top of the pedestal. I have certain weaknesses and I make certain mistakes. Of course, that is frustrating, because like any athlete, I strive to get better each day. I know a lot of the media and the fans want to say I’m the best. I appreciate that, but that’s not how I consider myself."

Club affiliation

Fedor Emelianenko began his mixed martial arts as a member of Russian Top Team, training with the first generation of Russian RINGS competitors, such as Volk Han and Andrey Kopylov. After winning his PRIDE Heavyweight title, a rift grew between Emelianenko and the manager of RTT, Vladimir Evgenevich Pogodin. According to Emelianenko, Pogodin, who held the position of vice-president in the World Sambo Federation, attempted to control Emelianenko's career through threats and abuse of his position to deny "Master of Sports" titles to Fedor and his brother Aleksander, in addition to financial disputes between Pogodin and Emelianenko, with Fedor alleging he was deceived by Pogodin. [cite web
url=http://www.fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=30
title=Interview with Fedor Emelyanenko
date=March 15, 2004
accessdate=2007-06-10] After his bout with Gary Goodridge, the Emelianenko brothers left Russian Top Team and began to train with the St. Petersburg based Red Devil Sport Club, which is managed by Vadim Finklestein. To date, Finklestein is still his manager. Emelianenko is also a member of the VOS gym in Holland, where he trains with Johan Vos and Lucien Carbin.cite web
url=http://www.fedor.bel.ru/?id=76
title=Бой с Мирко Кро Копом состоится обязательно!
language=Russian
date=April 4, 2005
accessdate=2007-07-01
quote= [I] plan to go to Holland and train at Iogan Vos' gym... I was not able to show my best—because of the hand injury I was not able to prepare for the fight as thoroughly as I would have liked. —Fedor Emelianenko]

RINGS

Emelianenko's only loss in the sport is controversial and came at the hands of Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, at the King of Kings 2000 Block B event on December 22, 2000, via doctor stoppage due to a cut 17 seconds into the fight. [cite web|publisher=USA Today|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/2008-07-09-fedor_N.htm|accessdate=2008-07-20|title=Russian Emelianenko brings big reputation to the States] Footage shows that the cut was caused by a missed looping punch where Kohsaka's elbow struck Emelianenko's head. Elbow strikes are illegal under RINGS rules unless the striker is wearing elbow pads, which Kohsaka wasn't. Emelianenko says that this elbow reopened a cut sustained in his previous fight against Ricardo Arona. [cite web
url=http://www.pridefc.com/pride2005/index.php?mainpage=news&news_id=106
title=Fedor Emelianenko interview
date=March 28, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-09
publisher=PRIDE
quote= [The fight is] not a good memory. I was cut by Kosaka's illegal strike (elbow). There was blood coming from my eyebrow and I couldn't finish the fight. The RINGS' judges gave the victory to Kosaka and wouldn't give me a revenge match. I don't think it was fair. —Fedor Emelianenko] Since the fight was in a tournament format, a winner and loser was required as draws or no contests could not be awarded. Since Emelianenko could not advance due to his injury, Kohsaka moved on (the match would have been a no contest or disqualification victory for Emelianenko otherwise).cite web
url=http://www.kickboxing.com/Media/Fedor-Emelianenko.html
title=Fedor Emelianenko Biography
publisher=Kickboxing.com
accessdate=2007-06-05] In spite of a hand injury, he avenged the loss at the PRIDE Bushido 6 event on April 3, 2005, defeating Kohsaka by technical knockout when the ring doctor stopped the fight after the first round.

PRIDE Fighting Championships

Entering PRIDE on the heels of winning the RINGS King of Kings 2002 tournament, Emelianenko debuted at PRIDE 21 on June 23, 2002 against the convert|6|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on, convert|256|lb|abbr=on Dutch fighter Semmy Schilt, whom he defeated by unanimous decision. His next opponent was heavyweight Heath Herring, in a contest to establish the number one contender for the heavyweight title. [cite web
url=http://www.ivansblog.com/2002/11/mixed-martial-arts-its-quite-historic.html
title=Ivan's Blog: Friday, November 22, 2002
last=Trembow
first=Ivan
date=November 22, 2002
accessdate=2007-06-29] Emelianenko, considered an underdog at the time, defeated Herring by doctor stoppage after the first round. This victory against a perennial contender brought him into title contention.cite web
url=http://www.ivansblog.com/2003/03/mixed-martial-arts-this-sundays-pride.html
title=Ivan's Blog: Friday, March 14, 2003
last=Trembow
first=Ivan
date=March 14, 2003
accessdate=2007-06-29]

Emelianenko was then signed to fight heavily favored Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for PRIDE's heavyweight championship title at PRIDE 25 on March 16, 2003. [cite web
url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=9171
title=Mike Coughlin looks at the Shoot Match of the year
last=Coughlin
first=Mike
publisher=The Wrestling Observer
date=December 11, 2003
accessdate=2007-06-28] The judges rendered a unanimous decision, and Emelianenko became the second PRIDE Heavyweight Champion.cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=3329
title=Fedor vs. "Cro Cop": All the Makings of a Great One
last=Nowe
first=Jason
publisher=Sherdog
date=August 26, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-09]

Three months later Emelianenko embarked on his title reign. His first match was against the former IWGP Heavyweight champion, amateur and professional wrestler Kazuyuki Fujita. A heavy favorite, Emelianenko was expected to make quick work of Fujita, but was caught by a wild right hook that stunned him. After working his way to a clinch, Emelianenko knocked Fujita down and went on to submit him at 4:17 in the first round with a rear naked choke.

Next came a one-sided bout against heavy underdog Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge at Total Elimination 2003.cite web
title=The Future of PRIDE after the Tremendous Non-Tourney Bouts
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=1136
last=Sloan
first=Mike
publisher=Sherdog
date=August 14, 2003
accessdate=2007-06-20] Emelianenko took down Goodridge after wobbling him with standing combinations, then finished him with a ground and pound technique in the first round by referee stoppage after delivering unanswered punches and kicks to the head. Emelianenko broke his hand in this fight, resulting in surgery. He has since reinjured this hand, leading to the postponement of several bouts. [cite web
last=Yu
first=Al
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=2798&zoneid=13
title=Can Coleman Upset Fedor At PRIDE?
publisher=MMA Weekly
date=October 19, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-15]

His next fight against New Japan professional wrestler Yuji Nagata at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 ended the same way, with Emelianenko first knocking Nagata to the ground twice with punches. Emelianenko fought at this event as opposed to Shockwave 2003 on the same day due to being offered a higher fight purse because of the great deal of competition between the Japanese television networks screening these events and K-1 Premium Dynamite!! on the same night. [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=1365
title=New Years Eve Previews: K-1, Shockwave, and Inoki
last=Hirth
first=James
publisher=Sherdog
date=December 30, 2003
accessdate=2007-06-14]

Four months later at Total Elimination 2004, he met PRIDE 2000 Grand Prix winner and former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman for the first time in the ring and submitted him with an armbar at 2:11 of the first round to advance in the 2004 heavyweight Grand Prix. Emelianenko has indicated his respect for Coleman, who popularized the ground and pound technique that has become his trademark. [cite web
url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/061022/s102220.html
title=Fedor Emelianenko wins in Pride Fighting Championships' U.S. debut
date=October 22, 2006
publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
accessdate=2006-06-26]

A notable match with Coleman’s protégé Kevin "The Monster" Randleman followed just two months later at the tournament's second round. Randleman, a two-time Division I NCAA Wrestling Champion for Ohio State University and a former UFC heavyweight champion, quickly worked into a clinch with Emelianenko and then delivered a suplex, slamming him to the canvas headfirst. [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=3330&my_page=2
title=Sherdog.com Preview: PRIDE "Final Conflict" Part III - Fedor vs. "Cro Cop"
last=Hirth
first=James
date=August 26, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-15
publisher=Sherdog] Emelianenko recovered immediately and forced Randleman to submit with a kimura armlock 1:33 into the first round. [cite web
url=http://www.subfighter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2839&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
title=Detailed interview with Fedor Emelianenko
publisher=Subfighter
date=March 9, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-26
quote=It wasn't really anything. There was no damage to my health at all. —Fedor Emelianenko] [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/Videos/Videos.asp?v_id=125
title=Fedor Emelianenko Post PRIDE CC Interview
publisher=Sherdog
date=June 20, 2004
accessdate=2007-06-26
quote=I wasn't scared or hurt, I was just fighting according to the situation. —Fedor Emelianenko]

On August 15, 2004, Emelianenko faced six-time All-Japan Judo Champion Naoya Ogawa in the semifinals of the 2004 Grand Prix. After submitting Ogawa with an armbar, he advanced to face Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, who had won a decision against Emelianenko's former teammate Sergei Kharitonov earlier that night. This match was not only to decide the winner of the 2004 Grand Prix, but to unify the heavyweight championship as Nogueira was awarded the interim title due to Emelianenko's inability to defend his championship in a timely manner. [cite web
url=http://www.ivansblog.com/2005/08/mixed-martial-arts-full-story-on-frank.html
title=The Full Story on Frank Mir Being Stripped of the UFC Heavyweight Title
last=Trembow
first=Ivan
date=August 14, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-29] In this rematch with Nogueira, the fight was stopped due to a cut to Emelianenko's head from an accidental headbutt he delivered to Nogueira.cite web
title=Fedor Retains PRIDE Title, Silva loses to K-1 Champ Hunt
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=2281
last=Gross
first=Josh
date=January 4, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-15
publisher=Sherdog] A third meeting was thus scheduled for Shockwave 2004, which Emelianenko won. Emelianenko overpowered the Brazilian on the feet in the first round, beating him to the punch for the first nine minutes of the first round. Nogueira faced great difficulty in attempting to put his opponent on his back, save for the final 30 seconds of the first round. [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=2544
title=Rodrigo Nogueira: On the Rebound
publisher=Portal de Vale Tudo, Sherdog
date=March 16, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-15
quote=I was not [fighting] with a good distance so I wasn't able to take him down... he was smart, [and] did not want to work the ground with me. —Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira] During the second and third rounds, Emelianenko's takedown defense and counter-punching earned him a unanimous decision victory to retain the heavyweight championship.

In other notable bouts, Emelianenko won a unanimous decision over former K-1 star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, a bout he calls his toughest to date. [cite web
url=http://www.gambling911.com/Fedor-Emelianenko-040707.html
title=Fedor Emelianenko the Best Fighter in the World?
last=Lewis
first=Destiny
accessdate=2007-06-04
date=April 7, 2007
publisher=Gambling 911] The fight had been delayed previously due to Emelianenko's hand injuries and Filipović's loss to Kevin Randleman derailing their expected meeting in the 2004 Grand Prix. [cite web
url=http://www.ivansblog.com/2005/05/mixed-martial-arts-its-saturday-and.html
title=Ivan's Blog: Saturday, May 28, 2005
last=Trembow
first=Ivan
date=May 28, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-29] Emelianenko managed to outscore Filipović in stand up fighting, landing many hard body shots, and controlled the bout on the ground. He has later stated that his hand injury took away his grip strength and so prevented him from trying submissions. [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/Videos/Videos.asp?v_id=423
title=Fedor Emelianenko Post PRIDE Final Conflict Video Interview
publisher=Sherdog
date=August 28, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-28]

Although originally endangered due to Emelianenko's recurring hand injury, a plate inserted in his hand green-lighted a rematch with American Mark Coleman in PRIDE's American debut show. [cite web
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/sports/othersports/22fight.html
title=No Holds (or Kicks, or Punches) Barred
last=Jenkins
first=Lee
publisher=The New York Times
date=June 22, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-26] [cite web
url=http://www.kickboxing.com/Articles/Fedor-Emelianenko-interview-pride.html
title=Fedor Emelianenko interview about the first round of the PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix
publisher=Kickboxing.com
accessdate=2007-06-26] In a fight where Coleman was unable to mount any significant offense, Emelianenko defeated Coleman with an armbar at 1:15 in the second round. [cite web
last=Martin
first=Todd
url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=17706
title=PRIDE's Real Deal Aptly Named
publisher=The Wrestling Observer
date=October 22, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-15]

Emelianenko's most recent title defense was against 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion Mark Hunt at Shockwave 2006. Sporting a broken toe during the contest, Emelianenko nevertheless secured an armbar in the second minute of the first round, but Hunt was able to escape and counter by stepping over Emelianenko, ending in side control. [cite web
url=http://www.graciemag.com/?c=144&a=5928
title=Fedor is off Pride Shockwave too
publisher=Gracie Magazine
date=December 13, 2006
accessdate=2007-07-01] At five minutes into the first round, Hunt made two attempts at an americana on Emelianenko’s left arm but failed to complete them. [cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3204&zoneid=1
title=PRIDE Shockwave Review and Pictures
author=Yu, Al; Petersen, Scott
publisher=MMA Weekly
date=December 31, 2006
accessdate=2007-06-28] Emelianenko submitted Hunt with a kimura at 8:16 in the first round. [cite web |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=6458
title=Notes from New Year's Weekend
last=Rossen
first=Jake
publisher=Sherdog
date=January 2, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-28]

BodogFight

With a special clause in his PRIDE contract that allowed him to fight under the banner of any mixed martial arts organization as long as the event was held on Russian soil, Emelianenko accepted a match in BodogFight against Matt Lindland. The fight was held on April 14, 2007 at the "Clash of the Nations" event in St. Petersburg, Russia. Lindland moved up two weight classes (from middleweight to heavyweight) for the match and came in weighing convert|218|lb|abbr=on to Emelianenko's convert|233|lb|abbr=on.

Early in the fight, Lindland opened a cut above Emelianenko's left eye and clinched with him, pushing him into the corner and working for a takedown. At this point, the referee warned Emelianenko against grabbing the ropes and Emelianenko corrected himself. After a few seconds of working in the clinch, Lindland attempted a bodylock takedown. When Lindland lifted Emelianenko from his feet, Emelianenko reached for and made contact with the top rope; whether he grabbed it or only touched it remains a subject of disagreement. [cite web
url=http://blogs.chron.com/fighting/2007/04/fedor_continues_dominance_subm.html
title=Fedor continues dominance, submits Lindland in first
last=Sievert
first=Steve
publisher=Houston Chronicle
date=April 15, 2007
accessdate=2007-07-02] After Emelianenko reversed Lindland's takedown and landed in his half guard, the fight remained on the ground where Emelianenko won by submission via armbar at 2:58 of the first round.

M-1 Global

Since the purchase of PRIDE by the majority owners of UFC and the expiration of Emelianenko's contract with PRIDE, there has been speculation about the possibility of him fighting in the UFC, especially since a public falling out between Bodog's Calvin Ayre and Emelianenko's manager, Vadim Finklestein.cite web
url=http://www.sportsline.com/mmaboxing/story/10297921
title=Fedor's next destination should be the UFC
last=Caplan
first=Sam
publisher=CBS SportsLine
date=August 16, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-17] In a June 2007 interview with the "Baltimore Sun", Chuck Liddell suggested that Emelianenko was on his way to the UFC. [cite web
url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/custom/mma/bal-liddellqa,0,788975.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
title=One-on-one with Chuck Liddell
date=June 12, 2007
accessdate=2007-06-15
last=Mohaparta
first=Pramit
publisher=The Baltimore Sun
quote=You’ve got Fedor [Emelianenko] coming over... in the heavyweight division. —Chuck Liddell] Dana White has also expressed interest in signing Emelianenko, but considers his management team to be the primary barrier left to the inking of a contract, [cite web
url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/todd_martin/07/02/foreign.invasion/
title=Foreign invasion: Some familiar faces are ready for action at UFC
last=Martin
first=Todd
publisher=Sports Illustrated
date=July 2, 2007
accessdate=2007-07-03
quote= [I have] no idea what these crazy Russians are going to do. —Dana White] whereas Finklestein has cited difficult negotiations as the reason. [cite web
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=2951422
title=Finkelstein discusses Fedor's future in MMA
last=Kogan
first=Evgeni
publisher=ESPN
date=July 27, 2007
accessdate=2007-08-02
quote= [The UFC is] very harsh in their terms... their proposal has all kinds of clauses [and] fines that do not suit us... Fedor must represent (sic) combat sambo in Russia. —Vadim Finkelstein] A main point of contention between the two is Finkelstein's request for the UFC to work with his Russian M-1 promotion, extending contractual offers to other members of the Red Devil Sport Club, and permitting Emelianenko to compete in combat sambo tournaments. At UFC 76 however, UFC president Dana White stated that he expected Emelianenko to sign with the UFC in late 2007 or early 2008, after Emelianenko was to compete in a Sambo competition that White would not allow him to participate in if he were under a UFC contract. He also revealed his intent to set up a unification bout with UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture as his first UFC fight. [cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4778&zoneid=13
title=Presidential Address, State of the UFC
last=Cain
first=Jeff
publisher=MMAWeekly
date = September 22, 2007
accessdate=2007-09-30
quote = I think that Fedor, right now, the word is he wants to fight in this Sambo event, but I won't let him fight in it if he's with us. I think he's going to wait until he fights in this thing in October, November, and we'll probably come to a deal with him at the end of this year or the beginning of next year... What we'd want to do is, we'd want to know who is the best heavyweight in the world. So if we sign Fedor, Fedor comes right in and fights Randy Couture for the title. —Dana White] Nevertheless, these negotiations broke down, [cite web
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3074261
title=Emelianenko ready to move on to M-1
last=Hockensmith
first=Ryan
publisher=ESPN
date=October 22, 2007
accessdate=2007-10-22] as Emelianenko committed to a non-exclusive, two-year and six-fight deal with M-1 Global in October 2007. [cite web
url=http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5076
title=Fedor Commits to M-1
last=Hunt
first=Loretta
publisher=The Fight Network
date=October 10, 2007
accessdate=2007-10-10] [cite web
url=http://mmajunkie.com/2007/10/22/its-official-fedor-emelianenko-signs-with-m-1-global/
title=It's Official: Fedor Emelianenko Signs With M-1 Global
last=Stupp
first=Dann
publisher=MMA Junkie
date=October 22, 2007
accessdate=2007-10-22]

Monte Cox, the president and CEO of M-1 Global, confirmed Emelianenko would face South Korean kickboxer Hong-Man Choi in a New Year's Eve event, Yarennoka!, taking place in Japan and organized by the former PRIDE FC staff with support from M-1 Global, FEG, and DEEP. The fight was broadcasted live in the United States on Mark Cuban's HDNet. [cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5107&zoneid=2/
title=On Again, Off Again, Fedor NYE Fight Confirmed
last=Pishna
first=Ken
publisher=MMA Weekly
date=November 20, 2007
accessdate=2007-11-20] Emelianenko defeated Choi in the opening round by submission via an armbar. [cite web
url=http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/12/31/fedor-emelianenko-defeats-hong-man-choi/
title=Fedor Emelianenko Defeats Hong Man Choi
last=Smith
first=Michael David
publisher=AOL Sports
date=December 31, 2007
accessdate=2007-12-31]

DREAM

On February 13, 2008, Emelianenko attended a press conference held by DREAM, a newly-formed Japanese mixed martial arts promotion. His manager, Finkelstein, confirmed that the organization had a tightly knit alliance with M-1 Global and that he would be fighting on the new organization's fight cards. [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/pictures.asp?n_id=11302
title='Dream' Come True? New Promotion Announced
last=Loiseleur
first=Tony
publisher=Sherdog
date=February 13, 2008
accessdate=2008-06-07] After Emelianenko parted ways with M-1 Global, [cite web
url=http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/7989974/
title=Week in review: Florian sets himself apart
last=Encarnacao
first=Jack
publisher=FOX Sports
date=April 5, 2008
accessdate=2008-04-08]

Affliction

At Affliction's inaugural event, promoted as "", Emelianenko defeated former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia via submission at 36 seconds in the first round. [cite web
url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-mma20-2008jul20,0,5046051.story
title=Fedor Emelianenko makes short work of Tim Sylvia at Affliction show
last=Arritt
first=Dan
publisher=Los Angeles Times
date=July 20, 2008
accessdate=2008-08-14]

Emelianenko was scheduled to fight in the second Affliction event, dubbed "", against Andrei Arlovski, but the event was postponed. The rescheduled fight was officially announced on October 10, 2008 and will take place on PPV on January 24, 2009. [http://mmarated.com/blogs/blog/20081010/exclusive__fedor_emelianenko_vs__andrei_arlovski_on_january_affliction_show-866.html]

Mixed Martial Arts record

As of September 2008, Emelianenko has compiled an amateur record of seven wins without any losses, and a professional record of 29 wins, one loss, and one no contest; six of these wins are by knockout and sixteen by submission. [cite web
url=http://fcfighter.brinkster.net/fighter.asp?FighterID=8200
title=Fedor Emelianenko: Professional fight record
year=2007
accessdate=2007-06-05
publisher=Full Contact Fighter] MMArecordbox
wins=29
losses=1
ko-wins=6
ko-losses=1
sub-wins=16
dec-wins=7
nc=1

ambo

Honorary titles and appellations

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter 2005 Shootfighter of the Year [cite news
last=Meltzer
first=Dave
title=2005 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards
publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter
date=April 1, 2006]
*Sherdog 2005 #1 Pound for Pound Fighter in the World [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=3699&my_page=2
title=J.G.'s Dirty Dozen—A Pound-for-Pound MMA Ranking
publisher=Sherdog
date=November 29, 2005
accessdate=2007-06-10
last=Gross
first=Josh]
*Sherdog 2005-2008 #1 Heavyweight in the World [cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings.asp?n_id=10708&my_page=2
title=Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
publisher=Sherdog
accessdate=2008-06-07]
*Yahoo! Sports #1 MMA Fighter (July—November 2007) [cite web
url=http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=dd-mmarankingsfinal072607
title=The Yahoo! Sports MMA Top 10
last=Doyle
first=Dave
publisher=Yahoo! Sports
date=July 26, 2007
accessdate=2008-06-07]
*Inside MMA #1 MMA Fighter of All-Time

ee also

*List of male mixed martial artists
*List of PRIDE champions

References

External links

* [http://fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml Official website]
* [http://fedor-shop.com/ Online shop]
* [http://reddevilshop.com/ Online Red Devil Fighting Team shop]
*sherdog|id=1500

Persondata
NAME = Emelianenko, Fedor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Емельяненко Фёдор (Russian)
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Mixed martial artist
DATE OF BIRTH = September 28, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH = Rubeshnoe, Luhansk, Ukrainian SSR, USSR