Silva vs Sonnen
round1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjyj_3HNDIk
round2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U38iTMughI8
round 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_-4up3ORU
round 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peGbZqAXBKU
round 5
EUROPEAN BJJ OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Andreas Michailidis GB Greece
Andreas Michailidis from GB Greece Draculino team, competing in Heavyweights adults blue belts in Ibjjf European BJJ Open championship. Wining the division in total 5 fights with 5 submissions.
Later on he competed in open class as well winning the Gold by 3 submissions and final fight by points.
Later on he competed in open class as well winning the Gold by 3 submissions and final fight by points.
Strikeforce Miami
Cris Cyborg vs Marloes Coenen
NICK Diaz VS MARIUS Zaromskis
Bobby Lashley Vs. Wes Sims
Herschel Walker vs Greg Nagy
fedor emelianenko part 1
Fedor Emelianenko vs Brett Rogers
Fedor Emelianenko vs Andrei Arlovski
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia
Fedor Emelianenko vs Hong Man Choi
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Lindland
Fedor Emelianenko vs Mark Hunt (Part 1/2)
Fedor Emelianenko vs Mark Hunt (Part 2/2)
Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Mark Coleman
Fedor Emelianenko
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fedor Emelianenko
Фёдор Емельяненко
Born Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko
September 28, 1976 (age 33)
Rubizhne, Luhansk, Ukrainian SSR
Other names The Last Emperor
Nationality Russian
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 233 lb (106 kg; 16.6 st)
Division 265
Reach 74.0 in (188 cm)
Style Sambo, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Stary Oskol, Belgorod, Russia
Team Red Devil Sport Club
Rank International Master of SportsSambo
Black belt and Master of SportsJudo
Years active 2000–present
MMA record
Total 33
Wins 31
By knockout 8
By submission 16
By decision 7
Losses 1
No contests 1
Other information
Spouse Oksana (1999-2006)
Marina (2009-present)[4]
Children 2
Notable relatives Aleksander Emelianenko brother
Ivan Emelianenko brother
Official website
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: September 15, 2009
Medal record
Competitor for Russia
Men's Judo
Russian Judo Championships
Gold 1997 Russian Judo Championships +100
Bronze 1998 Russian Judo Championships
Men's Combat Sambo
World Championships
Gold 2002 Thessaloniki
+100 kg
Gold 2002 Panama City
open
Gold 2005 Prague
+100 kg
Gold 2007 Prague
+100 kg
Bronze 2008 St. Petersburg
+100 kg
Russian Sambo Championships
Bronze 1998 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2000 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2002 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2005 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2006 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2007 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2008 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2009 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko (Russian: Фёдор Владимирович Емельяненко, tr.Fyodor Vladimirovich Yemelyanenko, IPA [ˈfʲɵdər vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪʨ jɪmʲɪlʲˈjanʲɪnkə][5]) (born September 28, 1976) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter. He is the currentWorld Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion and the last holder of the Pride Heavyweight Championship. 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 championship.
Emelianenko has been universally considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world for the last seven years by major publications, including ESPN, Sherdog, Full Contact Fighter, MMA Weekly, and Nokaut.[6] Several mixed martial arts publications currently rank Emelianenko as the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.[7][8] He holds the distinction of having held five separate major championships including the RINGS World Heavyweight and King of Kings Championships, the Pride World Heavyweight and Heavyweight Grand Prix Championships and the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship. Many analysts, as well as former and current fighters, consider Emelianenko to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. [9]
Contents
Biography
Fedor Emelianenko was born in 1976 in the city of Rubizhne, Luhansk in what was then theUkrainian SSR (now Ukraine).[10] In 1978, when he was two, his family moved within theSoviet Union to Stary Oskol, Belgorod of the Russian SFSR.[1] His mother, Olga Fedorovna, was a teacher and his father, Vladimir Alexandrovich Emelianenko, was a welder.[1]Emelianenko is the second child in the family and has an older sister and two younger brothers, including professional mixed martial artist Aleksander Emelianenko. Fedor also trains with his youngest brother Ivan, who has competed in Combat Sambo, and plans to begin a career in MMA in 2010.[11]
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.[11] In 1999, he married his wife Oksana, and their daughter Masha was born in the same year.[10]. They divorced in 2006.[4] On December 29, 2007, his second daughter, Vasilisa, was born to his long time girlfriend Marina.[12][13] Fedor and Marina married in October 2009.[14]In his spare time, he likes to read, listen to music, and draw.[15]
Fedor had the honour of being one of 80 Russian sporting champions, cultural icons and national heroes to carry the Olympic torch in St. Petersburg in 2008.[16]
Martial arts background and training regimen
Emelianenko demonstrates his ground and poundstyle at a 2006 seminar in Atlantic City.
Emelianenko's enthusiasm for fighting began with Sambo and Judo.[2] He initially trained under Vasiliy Ivanovich Gavrilov, and later under his current grappling coach, Vladimir Mihailovich Voronov.[2] His coach remembers that ten-year-old Emelianenko was relatively weak physically and did not have an innate grappling talent; instead, his biggest strength was his perseverance and strong will.[17] Although Emelianenko's official biography states that he trained in Sambo during his army years, he specified in a 2005 interview that this is incorrect. His training in the army was limited to running and strength training in a makeshift gym he put together himself.[citation needed] Emelianenko received the official certification of a "Master of Sports" in sambo and judo in 1997, and he became part of the Russian national team.[1] After earning a bronze medal in 1998 in the Russian Judo Championship, he started studying striking under coach Alexander Vasilievich Michkov.[10] Emelianenko started competing in combat sambo and mixed martial arts in 2000 at the age of 25, because he "didn't have any money".[18][19]
Emelianenko trains two or three times per day to maintain and improve his skills. He uses basic training methods like running, ropes, and weightlifting. Emelianenko used to weight train extensively, but in 1997 he almost completely substituted his weight exercises with sport-specific training in grappling, boxing, and kickboxing. His strength training consists of daily pull-ups, dips, and crunches.[20] Emelianenko also runs twice daily for a combined distance of 12–15 kilometres (7.5–9.3 mi),[21] and is a proponent of high altitude training, travelling toKislovodsk, 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, includingRoman Zentsov, and, until June 2006, his brother Aleksander.[22]
Improving his kicking technique became a focus for Emelianenko in 2005. He trained with kickboxer Ernesto Hoost in Netherlands, and added Nagnibeda, who was a "Seikin-do" league 78 kilograms (170 lb) title holder from 1998 to 2002 with a record of 33-3-1, and a former TulaState University Muay Thai instructor to his team.[23] Recently, Emelianenko has expressed interest in training young athletes.[24]
Emelianenko defended his title at the 2007 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.[25] On November 16, 2008, Emeliankos's first loss in Sambo in eight years came at the Combat Sambo World Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he fell in the semifinals of the over 220 lb (100 kg) division to 23-year-old Bulgarian Blagoi Ivanov on points, 8–5. Emelianenko finished the tournament in third place.[26]
On February 21, 2009, Emelianenko won the gold at Russian Combat Sambo Championship. Quarter- and semifinal were over in 14 and 26 seconds while the final lasted 20 seconds.[27] He also recently released a book called Fedor: The Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA which outlines his fight style.
Club affiliation
Part of the series on
Russian martial arts
Types
Russian fist fighting
Sambo
Important people
Mikhail Ryabko
Vladimir Vasiliev
Fedor Emelianenko
v • d
Emelianenko began his mixed martial arts as a member of Russian Top Team (RTT),[28][29]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 Emelianenko and his brother Aleksander. Emelianenko also alleged he was deceived by Pogodin in financial disputes between Pogodin and Emelianenko.[30] After his bout with Gary Goodridge, the Emelianenko brothers left Russian Top Team and began to train in St. Petersburg with the Red Devil Sport Club, which is managed by Vadim Finkelstein.[29] To date, Finkelstein is still his manager. Emelianenko is also a member of the VOS gym in Holland, where he trains with Johan Vos and Lucien Carbin.[citation needed]
MMA career
RINGS
Emelianenko made his MMA debut for the Japanese RINGS organization. RINGS had a peculiar set of rules which did not allow head strikes on the ground (which later on would be recognized as one of Fedor's biggests strengths).
Here Emelianenko suffered his only loss in the sport, a very controversial one that came at the hands ofTsuyoshi 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.[31] Footage shows that the cut was caused by a missed looping punch where Kohsaka's elbow struck Emelianenko's head. Elbow strikes were illegal under RINGS rules unless the striker is wearing elbow pads, which Kohsaka was not. Emelianenko says that this elbow reopened a cut sustained in his previous fight against Ricardo Arona.[32] Since the fight was in a tournament format, a winner and loser were 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). The tournament was eventually won by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who would later be Fedor's fiercest rival in MMA.[citation needed] Emelianenko would later avenge the only loss of his career when he rematched Kohsaka at Pride Bushido 6.
Many MMA fans disregard that loss due to its illegal nature, and consider Emelianenko to be technically undefeated in MMA.
Pride Fighting Championships
Emelianenko's Pride debut fight, against 6 ft 11 in Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt at Pride 21
Entering the Pride Fighting Championships on the heels of winning the RINGS King of Kings 2002 tournament, Emelianenko debuted at Pride 21 on June 23, 2002 against the 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), 256 lb (116 kg) 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.[33] Emelianenko, considered an underdog at the time, dominated Herring with ground and pound, winning by doctor stoppage after the first round. This victory against a perennial contender brought him into title contention.[34]
Emelianenko was then signed to fight heavily favored Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for Pride's Heavyweight Championship title at Pride 25 on March 16, 2003. Nogueira was coming off wins against Mark Coleman, Heath Herring and a shocking comeback victory against Bob Sapp, as well as his victory in the RINGS 2000 King of Kings Tournament, in which Fedor had also participated. Nogueira was considered by many fans to be virtually unbeatable, due to his amazing endurance, heart and submission skills.[29] Fedor rocked him early with punches, and Nogueira pulled guard. Emelianenko then shocked the world by not only surviving Nogueira's guard, considered the most dangerous in MMA, but easily defending all of Nogueira's submission attempts and dominating him for 20 minutes with a brutal ground and pound. The judges rendered a unanimous decision, and Emelianenko became the second Pride Heavyweight Champion, a title he would never lose.[35]
Fedor getting dazed by Kazuyuki Fujita's right hook at Pride 26
Three months later Emelianenko embarked on his title reign. His first match was against the formerIWGP 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 right hook that stunned him. Badly hurt, he worked his way to a clinch, and pulled guard. Recovered, Emelianenko got up and knocked Fujita down with body kick and a punching combo. He then submitted Fujita at 4:17 in the first round with a rear naked choke.[3][36] Emelianenko reminisced about it in February 2009, "Fujita is the only one who ever hit me right, and he hit hard!".[37]
Next came a one-sided bout against heavy underdog Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge at Total Elimination 2003.[38] 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.[35] He has since reinjured this hand, leading to the postponement of several bouts.[39]
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. That move upset the managers of PRIDE, who set up an interim title match between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Crocop Filipović, which ended with Nogueira pulling yet another comeback victory, scoring a second round armbar.[40]
Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix 2004
Emelianenko getting suplexed by Kevin Randlemanat Pride GP 2004 2R
Four months later, he returned to PRIDE, at Total Elimination 2004, where he met Pride 2000 Grand Prix winner and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Mark Coleman for the first time in the ring. After getting taken down, he pulled guard and submitted Coleman with an armbar at 2:11 of the first round to advance in the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix. That fight showed more of Fedor's versatility, as he not only had a good top game with his trademark ground and pound, but also a dangerous bottom game from his guard, being able to submit legit opponents from his back.
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, was coming off an upset win over Mirko Crocop Filipovic, which he ended by knockout. Randleman quickly scored a takedown. As Emelianenko gave his back, Randleman delivered a German suplex, slamming him to the canvas headfirst, a move that would become one of the most replayed highlights in PRIDE's and MMA's history for years to come.[41] Emelianenko, seemingly unfazed, rolled over Randleman a few seconds later, getting top position and forcing him to submit with a kimuraarmlock 1:33 into the first round.[42]
On August 15, 2004, Emelianenko faced six-time All-Japan Judo Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Naoya Ogawa in the semifinals of the 2004 Grand Prix. After making quick work of Ogawa, winning by armbar, he advanced to face Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for the second time in his career. Nogueira 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 in the previous year.[43] The rematch with Nogueira was very competitive, but the fight was stopped prematurely due to a cut to Emelianenko's head from an accidental clash of heads while on the ground.[44] A third meeting was thus scheduled for Shockwave 2004, which Fedor won. On the line was PRIDE's Heavyweight Championship, and PRIDE's 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix title, as the final match of the tournament earlier that year was declared a no contest due to an accidental headbutt. [29] Emelianenko this time chose not to engage Nogueira on the ground, in spite of having dominated him on the ground in their first match. He overpowered the Brazilian on the feet in the first round, beating him to the punch for the first nine minutes.[44]Nogueira faced great difficulty, getting dropped with punches and tossed to the mat multiple times by Judo throws. He wasn't able to implement his game plan of putting Fedor on his back, save for the final 30 seconds of the first round. He was also not able to pull guard for any considerable amount of time.[45] During the second and third rounds, Emelianenko's takedown defense and counter-punching earned him a unanimous decision victory to retain the heavyweight championship.[44]
Title Defense Against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
Emelianenko beating Mirko Cro Cop at thePride heavyweight championship 2005
The following year, Emelianenko signed to fight PRIDE's top heavyweight contender, and former K-1 star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović. This was a highly anticipated match. After Mirko had made a successful switch from K-1 to MMA, he quickly rose in the rankings with victories over Igor Vovchachyn, Kazuyuki Fujita, and a KO win over Fedor's younger brother, Aleksander Emelianenko. He then made a public challenge to Fedor Emelianenko and the bout was supposed to take place in late 2003. After a contract dispute, Fedor temporarily left PRIDE to fight for Inoki's Boom Ba Ye promotion, on New Year's eve 2003. This prompted PRIDE to set up an Interim Heavyweight Title Match between Crocop and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. After completely dominating the first round, Crocop was caught in an armbar early in the second round, thus making Nogueira the Interim champion, and number 1 challenger for Fedor's belt. Mirko got further de-railed from title contention, when in the first round of PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix 2004, he was upset by Kevin Randleman, getting knocked out early by ground strikes following a vicious left hook.
Later that year, Mirko began his recovery by defeating Ron Waterman, winning his rematch with Kevin Randleman by submission, and scoring a dominant TKO victory over Mark Coleman in the first round. Those wins put Crocop again in the spot of number 1 heavyweight contender, following Fedor's successful title defense against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on PRIDE's New Year's Eve show in 2004.
The match between Emelianenko and Crocop finally took place at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005. In the first round, Fedor was stunned and had his nose broken by two stiff jabs from Mirko. He also got hit by body kicks that discolored his midsection. Fedor was then able to get the fight to the ground and land several body shots, which took a lot of gas out of Mirko. As the fight progressed, Fedor became more and more dominant, winning most of the stand up exchanges and scoring several takedowns. After 20 minutes, Fedor was awarded a unanimous decision victory.[46] [47] [48]
The Later PRIDE Years
Following his successful title defense against Mirko Crocop at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005, Fedor came back on New Year's eve, where he outclassed the 450-pound Brazilian Zuluzinho in a non-title bout. Fedor dropped Zulu with a right hook and finished with several ground strikes which forced him to tap out after only 26 seconds.
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, Pride 32.[49][50] In a fight where Coleman was unable to mount any significant offense, Emelianenko blasted Coleman in the first round with punches, before securing an armbar at 1:15 in the second round.[51]
Emelianenko vs Coleman in Pride 32.
Emelianenko's last defense of his Pride Heavyweight title was against 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion Mark Hunt at Shockwave 2006. Josh Barnett was originally slated to fight Fedor for the Heavyweight title, but turned down the fight, claiming not to be in peak physical condition. With Crocop's departure to the UFC organization in late 2006, Mark Hunt became the number 1 contender for the belt. 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.[52] At five minutes into the first round, Hunt made two attempts at an americanaon Emelianenko’s left arm but failed to complete them.[53] Emelianenko got back to his feet, and after struggling to take the fight to the ground, he submitted Hunt with a kimura at 8:16 in the first round.[54]
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,[citation needed] 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 218 lb (99 kg) to Emelianenko's 233 lb (106 kg).
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 reversed the takedown, landing in Lindland's half guard. The fight then remained on the ground where Emelianenko won by submission via armbar at 2:58 of the first round.[55]
M-1 Global
After the purchase of Pride Fighting Championships by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III and the expiration of Emelianenko's contract with Pride, there was 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 Finkelstein.[56] In a June 2007 interview with the Baltimore Sun, Chuck Liddell suggested that Emelianenko was on his way to the UFC.[57] Dana White has also expressed interest in signing Emelianenko, but considers his management team to be the primary barrier left to the signing of a contract,[58] whereas Finkelstein has cited difficult negotiations as the reason.[59] 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.[56] 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.[60] Nevertheless, these negotiations broke down,[61] as Emelianenko committed to a non-exclusive, two-year and six-fight deal with M-1 Global in October 2007.[62]
Yarennoka
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 former Pride staff with support from M-1 Global, FEG, and Deep. A special rule was used for this fight to not allow any knee strikes on the ground. The fight was broadcast live in the United States on the HDNet cable network.[63] Emelianenko defeated Choi in the opening round by submission via an armbar.[64]
Dream
On February 13, 2008, Emelianenko attended a press conference held by Dream, a newly-formed Japanese mixed martial arts promotion. His manager, Vadim Finkelstein, confirmed that the organization had a tightly knit alliance with M-1 Global and that Emelianenko would be fighting on the new organization's fight cards.[65]
Affliction
At Affliction's inaugural event, promoted as Affliction: Banned, Emelianenko defeated former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylviavia submission at 36 seconds in the first round to become the inaugural World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Heavyweight Champion.[66] He dropped Sylvia with a hard flurry of punches, took his back and secured a rear naked choke to finish the title fight within the first minute. In his next fight with Affliction, Emelianenko defended his WAMMA championship, defeating former UFC Heavyweight ChampionAndrei Arlovski at Affliction: Day of Reckoning on January 24, 2009. Arlovski had some early success, landing punches and leg kicks.[67]However as the champion was backed into the ropes, Arlovski attempted a flying knee and Emelianenko was able to counter with an overhand right, knocking out Arlovski at 3:14 of the first round to retain his title.[67]
Fedor met WAMMA lightweight champion Shinya Aoki during a five-minute "special exhibition" at an April 29 M-1 Challenge (presented by Affliction) event in Tokyo. Emelianenko made Aoki tap out from a Achilles lock just before the bell sounded to end the exhibition.[68] In another special exhibition match, Emelianenko met Gegard Mousasi, a friend and teammate, during M-1 Global: Breakthrough, held in Kansas City on August 28th. The two friends fought a competitive and friendly spirited exhibition with several Judo throws from both Emelianenko and Mousasi. Emelianenko finished the fight via armbar.[69]
Emelianenko was scheduled to defend his WAMMA Heavyweight title against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett on August 1, 2009, at Affliction: Trilogy, but on July 22 Barnett was denied his license to compete by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for anabolic steroids.[70][71] On July 23, 2009, Vitor Belfort – who was already on the card – was reported as a likely replacement,[72]but the next day Affliction canceled the event citing limited time to find a suitable replacement and inadequate time to promote the fight.[73]
Strikeforce
Following Affliction's collapse Fedor signed a three fight contract with Strikeforce.[74] Coker confirmed that Emelianenko's debut would take place on November 7, broadcast nationally on CBS.[75] Fedor fought the then-undefeated Brett Rogers in the main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers. Despite suffering a heavily bloodied nose during the opening exchanges, Emelianenko defeated Rogers in the second round at 1:48 via TKO.[76]
Fedor Emelianenko vs Andrei Arlovski
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia
Fedor Emelianenko vs Hong Man Choi
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Lindland
Fedor Emelianenko vs Mark Hunt (Part 1/2)
Fedor Emelianenko vs Mark Hunt (Part 2/2)
Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Mark Coleman
Fedor Emelianenko
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fedor Emelianenko
Фёдор Емельяненко
Born Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko
September 28, 1976 (age 33)
Rubizhne, Luhansk, Ukrainian SSR
Other names The Last Emperor
Nationality Russian
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 233 lb (106 kg; 16.6 st)
Division 265
Reach 74.0 in (188 cm)
Style Sambo, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Stary Oskol, Belgorod, Russia
Team Red Devil Sport Club
Rank International Master of SportsSambo
Black belt and Master of SportsJudo
Years active 2000–present
MMA record
Total 33
Wins 31
By knockout 8
By submission 16
By decision 7
Losses 1
No contests 1
Other information
Spouse Oksana (1999-2006)
Marina (2009-present)[4]
Children 2
Notable relatives Aleksander Emelianenko brother
Ivan Emelianenko brother
Official website
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: September 15, 2009
Medal record
Competitor for Russia
Men's Judo
Russian Judo Championships
Gold 1997 Russian Judo Championships +100
Bronze 1998 Russian Judo Championships
Men's Combat Sambo
World Championships
Gold 2002 Thessaloniki
+100 kg
Gold 2002 Panama City
open
Gold 2005 Prague
+100 kg
Gold 2007 Prague
+100 kg
Bronze 2008 St. Petersburg
+100 kg
Russian Sambo Championships
Bronze 1998 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2000 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2002 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2005 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2006 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2007 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2008 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Gold 2009 Russian Combat Sambo Championships +100 kg
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko (Russian: Фёдор Владимирович Емельяненко, tr.Fyodor Vladimirovich Yemelyanenko, IPA [ˈfʲɵdər vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪʨ jɪmʲɪlʲˈjanʲɪnkə][5]) (born September 28, 1976) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter. He is the currentWorld Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion and the last holder of the Pride Heavyweight Championship. 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 championship.
Emelianenko has been universally considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world for the last seven years by major publications, including ESPN, Sherdog, Full Contact Fighter, MMA Weekly, and Nokaut.[6] Several mixed martial arts publications currently rank Emelianenko as the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.[7][8] He holds the distinction of having held five separate major championships including the RINGS World Heavyweight and King of Kings Championships, the Pride World Heavyweight and Heavyweight Grand Prix Championships and the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship. Many analysts, as well as former and current fighters, consider Emelianenko to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. [9]
Contents
Biography
Fedor Emelianenko was born in 1976 in the city of Rubizhne, Luhansk in what was then theUkrainian SSR (now Ukraine).[10] In 1978, when he was two, his family moved within theSoviet Union to Stary Oskol, Belgorod of the Russian SFSR.[1] His mother, Olga Fedorovna, was a teacher and his father, Vladimir Alexandrovich Emelianenko, was a welder.[1]Emelianenko is the second child in the family and has an older sister and two younger brothers, including professional mixed martial artist Aleksander Emelianenko. Fedor also trains with his youngest brother Ivan, who has competed in Combat Sambo, and plans to begin a career in MMA in 2010.[11]
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.[11] In 1999, he married his wife Oksana, and their daughter Masha was born in the same year.[10]. They divorced in 2006.[4] On December 29, 2007, his second daughter, Vasilisa, was born to his long time girlfriend Marina.[12][13] Fedor and Marina married in October 2009.[14]In his spare time, he likes to read, listen to music, and draw.[15]
Fedor had the honour of being one of 80 Russian sporting champions, cultural icons and national heroes to carry the Olympic torch in St. Petersburg in 2008.[16]
Martial arts background and training regimen
Emelianenko demonstrates his ground and poundstyle at a 2006 seminar in Atlantic City.
Emelianenko's enthusiasm for fighting began with Sambo and Judo.[2] He initially trained under Vasiliy Ivanovich Gavrilov, and later under his current grappling coach, Vladimir Mihailovich Voronov.[2] His coach remembers that ten-year-old Emelianenko was relatively weak physically and did not have an innate grappling talent; instead, his biggest strength was his perseverance and strong will.[17] Although Emelianenko's official biography states that he trained in Sambo during his army years, he specified in a 2005 interview that this is incorrect. His training in the army was limited to running and strength training in a makeshift gym he put together himself.[citation needed] Emelianenko received the official certification of a "Master of Sports" in sambo and judo in 1997, and he became part of the Russian national team.[1] After earning a bronze medal in 1998 in the Russian Judo Championship, he started studying striking under coach Alexander Vasilievich Michkov.[10] Emelianenko started competing in combat sambo and mixed martial arts in 2000 at the age of 25, because he "didn't have any money".[18][19]
Emelianenko trains two or three times per day to maintain and improve his skills. He uses basic training methods like running, ropes, and weightlifting. Emelianenko used to weight train extensively, but in 1997 he almost completely substituted his weight exercises with sport-specific training in grappling, boxing, and kickboxing. His strength training consists of daily pull-ups, dips, and crunches.[20] Emelianenko also runs twice daily for a combined distance of 12–15 kilometres (7.5–9.3 mi),[21] and is a proponent of high altitude training, travelling toKislovodsk, 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, includingRoman Zentsov, and, until June 2006, his brother Aleksander.[22]
Improving his kicking technique became a focus for Emelianenko in 2005. He trained with kickboxer Ernesto Hoost in Netherlands, and added Nagnibeda, who was a "Seikin-do" league 78 kilograms (170 lb) title holder from 1998 to 2002 with a record of 33-3-1, and a former TulaState University Muay Thai instructor to his team.[23] Recently, Emelianenko has expressed interest in training young athletes.[24]
Emelianenko defended his title at the 2007 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.[25] On November 16, 2008, Emeliankos's first loss in Sambo in eight years came at the Combat Sambo World Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he fell in the semifinals of the over 220 lb (100 kg) division to 23-year-old Bulgarian Blagoi Ivanov on points, 8–5. Emelianenko finished the tournament in third place.[26]
On February 21, 2009, Emelianenko won the gold at Russian Combat Sambo Championship. Quarter- and semifinal were over in 14 and 26 seconds while the final lasted 20 seconds.[27] He also recently released a book called Fedor: The Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA which outlines his fight style.
Club affiliation
Part of the series on
Russian martial arts
Types
Russian fist fighting
Sambo
Important people
Mikhail Ryabko
Vladimir Vasiliev
Fedor Emelianenko
v • d
Emelianenko began his mixed martial arts as a member of Russian Top Team (RTT),[28][29]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 Emelianenko and his brother Aleksander. Emelianenko also alleged he was deceived by Pogodin in financial disputes between Pogodin and Emelianenko.[30] After his bout with Gary Goodridge, the Emelianenko brothers left Russian Top Team and began to train in St. Petersburg with the Red Devil Sport Club, which is managed by Vadim Finkelstein.[29] To date, Finkelstein is still his manager. Emelianenko is also a member of the VOS gym in Holland, where he trains with Johan Vos and Lucien Carbin.[citation needed]
MMA career
RINGS
Emelianenko made his MMA debut for the Japanese RINGS organization. RINGS had a peculiar set of rules which did not allow head strikes on the ground (which later on would be recognized as one of Fedor's biggests strengths).
Here Emelianenko suffered his only loss in the sport, a very controversial one that came at the hands ofTsuyoshi 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.[31] Footage shows that the cut was caused by a missed looping punch where Kohsaka's elbow struck Emelianenko's head. Elbow strikes were illegal under RINGS rules unless the striker is wearing elbow pads, which Kohsaka was not. Emelianenko says that this elbow reopened a cut sustained in his previous fight against Ricardo Arona.[32] Since the fight was in a tournament format, a winner and loser were 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). The tournament was eventually won by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who would later be Fedor's fiercest rival in MMA.[citation needed] Emelianenko would later avenge the only loss of his career when he rematched Kohsaka at Pride Bushido 6.
Many MMA fans disregard that loss due to its illegal nature, and consider Emelianenko to be technically undefeated in MMA.
Pride Fighting Championships
Emelianenko's Pride debut fight, against 6 ft 11 in Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt at Pride 21
Entering the Pride Fighting Championships on the heels of winning the RINGS King of Kings 2002 tournament, Emelianenko debuted at Pride 21 on June 23, 2002 against the 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), 256 lb (116 kg) 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.[33] Emelianenko, considered an underdog at the time, dominated Herring with ground and pound, winning by doctor stoppage after the first round. This victory against a perennial contender brought him into title contention.[34]
Emelianenko was then signed to fight heavily favored Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for Pride's Heavyweight Championship title at Pride 25 on March 16, 2003. Nogueira was coming off wins against Mark Coleman, Heath Herring and a shocking comeback victory against Bob Sapp, as well as his victory in the RINGS 2000 King of Kings Tournament, in which Fedor had also participated. Nogueira was considered by many fans to be virtually unbeatable, due to his amazing endurance, heart and submission skills.[29] Fedor rocked him early with punches, and Nogueira pulled guard. Emelianenko then shocked the world by not only surviving Nogueira's guard, considered the most dangerous in MMA, but easily defending all of Nogueira's submission attempts and dominating him for 20 minutes with a brutal ground and pound. The judges rendered a unanimous decision, and Emelianenko became the second Pride Heavyweight Champion, a title he would never lose.[35]
Fedor getting dazed by Kazuyuki Fujita's right hook at Pride 26
Three months later Emelianenko embarked on his title reign. His first match was against the formerIWGP 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 right hook that stunned him. Badly hurt, he worked his way to a clinch, and pulled guard. Recovered, Emelianenko got up and knocked Fujita down with body kick and a punching combo. He then submitted Fujita at 4:17 in the first round with a rear naked choke.[3][36] Emelianenko reminisced about it in February 2009, "Fujita is the only one who ever hit me right, and he hit hard!".[37]
Next came a one-sided bout against heavy underdog Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge at Total Elimination 2003.[38] 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.[35] He has since reinjured this hand, leading to the postponement of several bouts.[39]
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. That move upset the managers of PRIDE, who set up an interim title match between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Crocop Filipović, which ended with Nogueira pulling yet another comeback victory, scoring a second round armbar.[40]
Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix 2004
Emelianenko getting suplexed by Kevin Randlemanat Pride GP 2004 2R
Four months later, he returned to PRIDE, at Total Elimination 2004, where he met Pride 2000 Grand Prix winner and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Mark Coleman for the first time in the ring. After getting taken down, he pulled guard and submitted Coleman with an armbar at 2:11 of the first round to advance in the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix. That fight showed more of Fedor's versatility, as he not only had a good top game with his trademark ground and pound, but also a dangerous bottom game from his guard, being able to submit legit opponents from his back.
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, was coming off an upset win over Mirko Crocop Filipovic, which he ended by knockout. Randleman quickly scored a takedown. As Emelianenko gave his back, Randleman delivered a German suplex, slamming him to the canvas headfirst, a move that would become one of the most replayed highlights in PRIDE's and MMA's history for years to come.[41] Emelianenko, seemingly unfazed, rolled over Randleman a few seconds later, getting top position and forcing him to submit with a kimuraarmlock 1:33 into the first round.[42]
On August 15, 2004, Emelianenko faced six-time All-Japan Judo Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Naoya Ogawa in the semifinals of the 2004 Grand Prix. After making quick work of Ogawa, winning by armbar, he advanced to face Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for the second time in his career. Nogueira 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 in the previous year.[43] The rematch with Nogueira was very competitive, but the fight was stopped prematurely due to a cut to Emelianenko's head from an accidental clash of heads while on the ground.[44] A third meeting was thus scheduled for Shockwave 2004, which Fedor won. On the line was PRIDE's Heavyweight Championship, and PRIDE's 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix title, as the final match of the tournament earlier that year was declared a no contest due to an accidental headbutt. [29] Emelianenko this time chose not to engage Nogueira on the ground, in spite of having dominated him on the ground in their first match. He overpowered the Brazilian on the feet in the first round, beating him to the punch for the first nine minutes.[44]Nogueira faced great difficulty, getting dropped with punches and tossed to the mat multiple times by Judo throws. He wasn't able to implement his game plan of putting Fedor on his back, save for the final 30 seconds of the first round. He was also not able to pull guard for any considerable amount of time.[45] During the second and third rounds, Emelianenko's takedown defense and counter-punching earned him a unanimous decision victory to retain the heavyweight championship.[44]
Title Defense Against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
Emelianenko beating Mirko Cro Cop at thePride heavyweight championship 2005
The following year, Emelianenko signed to fight PRIDE's top heavyweight contender, and former K-1 star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović. This was a highly anticipated match. After Mirko had made a successful switch from K-1 to MMA, he quickly rose in the rankings with victories over Igor Vovchachyn, Kazuyuki Fujita, and a KO win over Fedor's younger brother, Aleksander Emelianenko. He then made a public challenge to Fedor Emelianenko and the bout was supposed to take place in late 2003. After a contract dispute, Fedor temporarily left PRIDE to fight for Inoki's Boom Ba Ye promotion, on New Year's eve 2003. This prompted PRIDE to set up an Interim Heavyweight Title Match between Crocop and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. After completely dominating the first round, Crocop was caught in an armbar early in the second round, thus making Nogueira the Interim champion, and number 1 challenger for Fedor's belt. Mirko got further de-railed from title contention, when in the first round of PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix 2004, he was upset by Kevin Randleman, getting knocked out early by ground strikes following a vicious left hook.
Later that year, Mirko began his recovery by defeating Ron Waterman, winning his rematch with Kevin Randleman by submission, and scoring a dominant TKO victory over Mark Coleman in the first round. Those wins put Crocop again in the spot of number 1 heavyweight contender, following Fedor's successful title defense against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on PRIDE's New Year's Eve show in 2004.
The match between Emelianenko and Crocop finally took place at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005. In the first round, Fedor was stunned and had his nose broken by two stiff jabs from Mirko. He also got hit by body kicks that discolored his midsection. Fedor was then able to get the fight to the ground and land several body shots, which took a lot of gas out of Mirko. As the fight progressed, Fedor became more and more dominant, winning most of the stand up exchanges and scoring several takedowns. After 20 minutes, Fedor was awarded a unanimous decision victory.[46] [47] [48]
The Later PRIDE Years
Following his successful title defense against Mirko Crocop at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005, Fedor came back on New Year's eve, where he outclassed the 450-pound Brazilian Zuluzinho in a non-title bout. Fedor dropped Zulu with a right hook and finished with several ground strikes which forced him to tap out after only 26 seconds.
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, Pride 32.[49][50] In a fight where Coleman was unable to mount any significant offense, Emelianenko blasted Coleman in the first round with punches, before securing an armbar at 1:15 in the second round.[51]
Emelianenko vs Coleman in Pride 32.
Emelianenko's last defense of his Pride Heavyweight title was against 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion Mark Hunt at Shockwave 2006. Josh Barnett was originally slated to fight Fedor for the Heavyweight title, but turned down the fight, claiming not to be in peak physical condition. With Crocop's departure to the UFC organization in late 2006, Mark Hunt became the number 1 contender for the belt. 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.[52] At five minutes into the first round, Hunt made two attempts at an americanaon Emelianenko’s left arm but failed to complete them.[53] Emelianenko got back to his feet, and after struggling to take the fight to the ground, he submitted Hunt with a kimura at 8:16 in the first round.[54]
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,[citation needed] 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 218 lb (99 kg) to Emelianenko's 233 lb (106 kg).
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 reversed the takedown, landing in Lindland's half guard. The fight then remained on the ground where Emelianenko won by submission via armbar at 2:58 of the first round.[55]
M-1 Global
After the purchase of Pride Fighting Championships by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III and the expiration of Emelianenko's contract with Pride, there was 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 Finkelstein.[56] In a June 2007 interview with the Baltimore Sun, Chuck Liddell suggested that Emelianenko was on his way to the UFC.[57] Dana White has also expressed interest in signing Emelianenko, but considers his management team to be the primary barrier left to the signing of a contract,[58] whereas Finkelstein has cited difficult negotiations as the reason.[59] 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.[56] 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.[60] Nevertheless, these negotiations broke down,[61] as Emelianenko committed to a non-exclusive, two-year and six-fight deal with M-1 Global in October 2007.[62]
Yarennoka
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 former Pride staff with support from M-1 Global, FEG, and Deep. A special rule was used for this fight to not allow any knee strikes on the ground. The fight was broadcast live in the United States on the HDNet cable network.[63] Emelianenko defeated Choi in the opening round by submission via an armbar.[64]
Dream
On February 13, 2008, Emelianenko attended a press conference held by Dream, a newly-formed Japanese mixed martial arts promotion. His manager, Vadim Finkelstein, confirmed that the organization had a tightly knit alliance with M-1 Global and that Emelianenko would be fighting on the new organization's fight cards.[65]
Affliction
At Affliction's inaugural event, promoted as Affliction: Banned, Emelianenko defeated former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylviavia submission at 36 seconds in the first round to become the inaugural World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Heavyweight Champion.[66] He dropped Sylvia with a hard flurry of punches, took his back and secured a rear naked choke to finish the title fight within the first minute. In his next fight with Affliction, Emelianenko defended his WAMMA championship, defeating former UFC Heavyweight ChampionAndrei Arlovski at Affliction: Day of Reckoning on January 24, 2009. Arlovski had some early success, landing punches and leg kicks.[67]However as the champion was backed into the ropes, Arlovski attempted a flying knee and Emelianenko was able to counter with an overhand right, knocking out Arlovski at 3:14 of the first round to retain his title.[67]
Fedor met WAMMA lightweight champion Shinya Aoki during a five-minute "special exhibition" at an April 29 M-1 Challenge (presented by Affliction) event in Tokyo. Emelianenko made Aoki tap out from a Achilles lock just before the bell sounded to end the exhibition.[68] In another special exhibition match, Emelianenko met Gegard Mousasi, a friend and teammate, during M-1 Global: Breakthrough, held in Kansas City on August 28th. The two friends fought a competitive and friendly spirited exhibition with several Judo throws from both Emelianenko and Mousasi. Emelianenko finished the fight via armbar.[69]
Emelianenko was scheduled to defend his WAMMA Heavyweight title against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett on August 1, 2009, at Affliction: Trilogy, but on July 22 Barnett was denied his license to compete by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for anabolic steroids.[70][71] On July 23, 2009, Vitor Belfort – who was already on the card – was reported as a likely replacement,[72]but the next day Affliction canceled the event citing limited time to find a suitable replacement and inadequate time to promote the fight.[73]
Strikeforce
Following Affliction's collapse Fedor signed a three fight contract with Strikeforce.[74] Coker confirmed that Emelianenko's debut would take place on November 7, broadcast nationally on CBS.[75] Fedor fought the then-undefeated Brett Rogers in the main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers. Despite suffering a heavily bloodied nose during the opening exchanges, Emelianenko defeated Rogers in the second round at 1:48 via TKO.[76]
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