Fedor Emelianenko
Encyclopedia
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko) (born September 28, 1976) is a Russian heavyweight
mixed martial artist
. 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 received widespread acclaim from several major publications, including Sports Illustrated
, USA Today
, and Sherdog.com
. Many analysts, as well as former and current fighters, consider Emelianenko to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. He remained undefeated for nearly a decade, during which time he was widely considered the best heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts.
, Luhansk Oblast
, Ukraine (then in the USSR
). In 1978, when he was two, his family moved within the Soviet Union
to Stary Oskol
, Belgorod
of the Russian SFSR. His mother, Olga Fedorovna, was a teacher and his father, Vladimir Alexandrovich Emelianenko, was a welder. Emelianenko is the second child in the family and has an older sister and two younger brothers, including professional mixed martial artist Alexander Emelianenko. Fedor trains with his youngest brother Ivan, who has competed in Combat Sambo, and plans to begin a career in MMA in 2010.
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 daughter Masha was born in the same year. They divorced in 2006. On December 29, 2007, his second daughter, Vasilisa, was born to his long time girlfriend Marina. Emelianenko and Marina married in October 2009. In his spare time, he likes to read, listen to music, and draw. He is a practicing Orthodox Christian and a parishioner at the church of St. Nicholas in Stary Oskol. His confessor is archpriest Andrei Zinoviev. His entrance theme song, oy, to ne vecher
, was performed at his request by archdeacon Andrey Zheleznyakov, solist at the Episcopal Choir of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese.
Emelianenko 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.
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 Sport" ranks to Fedor and his brother Alexander. Emelianenko alleged he was deceived by Pogodin in financial disputes between Pogodin and Emelianenko. 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. To date, Finkelstein is still his manager. Emelianenko is a member of the VOS gym in Holland, where he trains with Johan Vos and Lucien Carbin. Emelianenko has trained with the likes of Ernesto Hoost
, Tyrone Spong
, and Denis Lebedev
.
Here Emelianenko suffered his first loss in the sport, a very controversial one that 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. 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 was wearing elbow pads, which Kohsaka was not. Emelianenko says that this elbow reopened a cut sustained in his previous fight against Ricardo Arona
. 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). Many MMA fans disregard that loss due to its illegal nature, and considered Emelianenko to be technically undefeated in MMA until he lost to Fabricio Werdum. The tournament was eventually won by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
, who would later be Emelianenko's fiercest rival in MMA. Emelianenko would later avenge the first loss of his career when he rematched Kohsaka at Pride Bushido 6
.
After defeating veteran Renato Sobral
in an elimination bout, Emelianenko went on fight for the World Heavyweight Class Championship against Bobby Hoffman
the same night. However, Hoffman refused to fight Emelianenko, claiming he sustained a injury to his shoulder during his previous match, and forfeited the final. A win was awarded to Emelianenko by default, and he was given the RINGS Heavyweight Class Championship.
On February 15, 2002, Emelianenko defeated Chris Haseman and won the RINGS Absolute Class Tournament, the last tournament ever held by RINGS.
on June 23, 2002 against the 6 in 11 in (2.11 m), 256 lb (116.1 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. 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.
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 Emelianenko had participated. Nogueira was considered by many fans to be virtually unbeatable, due to his endurance and submission skills. Emelianenko rocked him early with punches, and Nogueira pulled guard. Emelianenko then survived Nogueira's guard, considered the most dangerous in MMA, and easily defended all of Nogueira's submission attempts, 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.
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 right hook
that stunned him. Badly hurt, he worked his way to a clinch, but was taken down. With Fujita unable to amount a significant offense Emelianenko was able to recover. Emelianenko worked his way 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
. Emelianenko reminisced about it in February 2009, "Fujita is the only one who ever hit me right, and he hit hard!".
Next came a one-sided bout against heavy underdog Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge
at Total Elimination 2003
. 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. In 2011, Goodridge recalled his fight with Emelianenko; "Fedor hits so hard, I don't remember anything (from the fight). No one has his speed and power combo. He fought for 10 years at the top. He doesn't owe anything else to the sport."
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.
, where he met Pride 2000 Grand Prix winner and former Ultimate Fighting Championship
(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 Emelianenko's versatility, as he not only had a good top game with his trademark ground and pound, but a dangerous bottom game from his guard, being able to submit legitimate 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 "Cro Cop" Filipović
, 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. Emelianenko, seemingly unfazed, rolled over Randleman a few seconds later, getting top position and forcing him to submit with a kimura armlock 1:33 into the first round.
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. 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. A third meeting was thus scheduled for Shockwave 2004
, which Emelianenko 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. 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 Brazil
ian on the feet in the first round, beating him to the punch for the first nine minutes. Nogueira faced great difficulty, getting dropped with punches and tossed to the mat multiple times by Judo throws. He was not able to implement his game plan of putting Emelianenko on his back, save for the final 30 seconds of the first round. He was not able to pull guard for any considerable amount of time. During the second and third rounds, Emelianenko's takedown
defense and counter-punching earned him a unanimous decision victory to retain the heavyweight championship.
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 Emelianenko's younger brother, Alexander Emelianenko. He then made a public challenge to Emelianenko and the bout was supposed to take place in late 2003. After a contract dispute, Emelianenko 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-one challenger for Emelianenko'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 Mirko Filipović again in the spot of number-one 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 Mirko Filipović finally took place at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
. In the first round, Emelianenko was stunned and had his nose broken by two stiff jabs from Filipović. He got hit by body kicks that discolored his midsection. Emelianenko was then able to get the fight to the ground and land several body shots, which took a lot of gas out of Filipović. As the fight progressed, Emelianenko became more and more dominant, winning most of the stand up exchanges and scoring several takedowns. After 20 minutes, Emelianenko was awarded a unanimous decision victory.
, Emelianenko came back on New Year's eve, where he outclassed the 450-pound Brazilian Zuluzinho in a non-title bout. Emelianenko 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
. 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.
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 Emelianenko for the Heavyweight title, but turned down the fight, claiming not to be in peak physical condition. With Filipović's departure to the UFC organization in late 2006, Mark Hunt became the number-one 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
. At five minutes into the first round, Hunt made two attempts at an americana on Emelianenko's left arm but failed to complete them. 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.
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 212.5 lb (96.5 kg) to Emelianenko's 230 lb (104.5 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.
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. In a June 2007 interview with the Baltimore Sun
, Chuck Liddell
suggested that Emelianenko was on his way to the UFC. Dana White
has expressed interest in signing Emelianenko, but considers his management team to be the primary barrier left to the signing of a contract, whereas Finkelstein has cited difficult negotiations as the reason. 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 revealed his intent to set up a unification bout with UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture
as his first UFC fight. Nevertheless, these negotiations broke down, as Emelianenko committed to a non-exclusive, two-year and six-fight deal with M-1 Global
in October 2007.
, 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. Emelianenko defeated Choi in the opening round by submission via an armbar.
, 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. M-1 Global CEO Vadim Finkelstein recently revealed of their plans to organize a fight for Fedor in co-operation with Dream, possibly on New Year's Eve in Japan.
, Emelianenko faced former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia
. Sylvia was coming off a submission
loss via guillotine choke
at the hands of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
at UFC 81
in a title fight for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. Sylvia was ranked as the #4 heavyweight fighter in MMA by Sherdog.com
prior to his fight with Emelianenko.
Emelianenko defeated Sylvia in 36 seconds. He dropped Sylvia with a lightning quick punch combination, took his back and then finished the fight via submission
due to a rear naked choke
. Sylvia said in the post-fight press conference, "I know that I'm one of the best in the world, I was amazed at how good Fedor is. He hurt me right away and submitted me. The guy's a stud. I don't even think he's human. That guy hits hard. I've never been hit that hard before."
UFC President Dana White
, who had been relentless in his criticism of Emelianenko, admitted to being impressed with Emelianenko's performance against the ex-UFC champion Sylvia. When asked if the submission win changed his opinion on Fedor, White said; "It does. Tim Sylvia was a real opponent."
After the fight, UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture
entered the ring and Emelianenko expressed his desire to fight Couture next. However, Couture's contract with the UFC prevented the fight from occurring outside of the organization.
On January 24, 2009, at Affliction: Day of Reckoning, Emelianenko fought former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski
, who, like Sylvia, was widely considered to be a top-5 heavyweight at the time of the fight. Arlovski was on a five fight win streak and was ranked as high as the #2 heavyweight fighter in MMA by Sherdog.com. Arlovski had some early success in the fight, landing punches and leg kicks. However, as Emelianenko was backed into the ropes, Arlovski attempted a flying knee and Emelianenko was able to counter with an overhand right which resulted in a brutal knockout of Arlovski at 3:14 of the first round. The knockout victory was awarded knockout of the year for 2009 by Sherdog.
Emelianenko met 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. In another special exhibition match, Emelianenko met Gegard Mousasi
, a friend and teammate, during M-1 Global: Breakthrough
, held in Kansas City on August 28. 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.
Emelianenko was scheduled to fight 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. On July 23, 2009, Vitor Belfort
– who was already on the card – was reported as a likely replacement, but the next day Affliction canceled the event citing limited time to find a suitable replacement and inadequate time to promote the fight.
ferociously tried to sign Emelianenko to an exclusive contract with the UFC several times. White said of Emelianenko; "He has become my obsession. I want it (him in the UFC) worse than the fans want it." Widely considered to be the best heavyweight MMA fighter at the time, Emelianenko would receive an immediate title shot against then current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar
, a fight which White deemed would be "huge". After reportedly offering Emelianenko a large contract worth just under 2 million US dollars per fight, with incentive to make much more based on pay per view buys for fights he headlines, negotiations fell apart after Emelianenko's management team demanded a co-promotion between the UFC and M-1 Global
, terms which White deemed unacceptable. However, other media outlets placed much of the blame on the UFC: "Trying to get out in front of the public relations skirmish that would follow the UFC’s failure to sign Emeliananeko, a UFC insider leaked bogus contract terms to Carmichael Dave, a California-based radio host. The tactic was effective. Fans and the online media turned against the Russian and his team. The tactic also may have backfired. Emelianenko was reportedly softening and considering signing with the UFC. The leak, which M-1 Global criticized as inaccurate and inappropriate, shut down negotiations for good."
. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed that Emelianenko's debut would take place on November 7, broadcast nationally on CBS
.
Emelianenko's first fight in Strikeforce was against the then-undefeated Brett Rogers
in the main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
on November 7, 2009. Rogers was coming off a knockout win over Andrei Arlovski
and was ranked as the #6 heavyweight fighter in MMA by Sherdog.com at the time of the fight. In the fight, Emelianenko landed early in the first round, but he failed to secure a submission after two attempts. In the second round he knocked Rogers down with an overhand right, then punched him three more times on the mat to secure the victory via TKO at 1:48. This bout would mark the first time Emelianenko competed in a cage. With the win, Emelianenko defeated his third straight top-10 heavyweight opponent.
Emelianenko suffered his first loss in 10 years on June 26, 2010 against Fabricio Werdum
. After knocking Werdum down only seconds into the first round, Emelianenko closed in, but Werdum secured a deep triangle and an armbar from his guard, and Fedor was forced to tap. The loss was considered a large upset; in the process, Werdum became the first MMA fighter to attain a non-controversial victory over Emelianenko.
Emelianenko stated through a translator on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani
that he considered retirement before the Werdum fight due to accumulating injuries and ageing.
In January 2011, it was announced that Fedor had agreed to enter the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, and would face Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva on February 12 in the first quarterfinal match. After a close first round, Silva took control in round 2. After passing to mount, he unleashed a barrage of ground-and-pound that ultimately caused Emelianenko's right eye to swell shut. Ringside doctors called a stop to the fight, stating that Emelianenko could not see and they would not allow him to continue.
Emelianenko faced Dan Henderson
on July 30, 2011 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
. After both fighters landed significant punches in the first round, Fedor knocked Henderson down with a combination of strikes. Fedor followed Henderson to the mat and began to ground-and-pound him but Henderson was able to sweep and reverse position before delivering a punch underneath Fedor's armpit which landed on his chin, knocking Fedor face first into the mat. Henderson continued to punch Fedor until referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop the fight. Dean explained the stoppage saying, "The fight is over when he's unconscious. Because he comes back swiftly after I've already stepped in and stopped the fight, I can't restart the fight. Dan's still throwing punches, but once I've touched Dan, I've stopped the fight. If I was to do it again – if I see a fighter face down receiving shots, I'm going to step in and stop the fight. I can't predict how long he's going to be unconscious for."
Following his third loss in a row, Emelianenko was reportedly released from Strikeforce. UFC president Dana White stated he was being released, “Yeah, he’s being cut.” However, Emelianenko disputed White's claims, saying, "That's Dana White's style to make comments. I didn't have a contract with Strikeforce. My current contract is with Showtime. So I think people shouldn't pay attention to these "loud" comments." According to M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan, Fedor was only under contract to Showtime and from there he fought under the Strikeforce banner, but was never under direct employ of Zuffa, and therefore was not "cut" by the organization. "Strikeforce is not the only MMA promotion on Showtime so there are a number of options for Fedor which will be looked at," Kogan told MMA Weekly.
at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson
on November 20, 2011 at the Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia and won the fight via unanimous decision.
He is expected to next compete at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoko 2011 , where is most likely opponent stands to be Olympic judoka gold medalist Satoshi Ishii
.
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 32–4 (1)
| Jeff Monson
| Decision (unanimous)
| M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Moscow
, Russia
|
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–4 (1)
| Dan Henderson
| TKO (punches)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4:12
| Hoffman Estates, Illinois
, U.S.
|
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–3 (1)
| Antonio Silva
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| East Rutherford, New Jersey
, U.S.
| Strikeforce
Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–2 (1)
| Fabricio Werdum
| Submission (triangle
/armbar)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:09
| San Jose, California
, U.S.
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–1 (1)
| Brett Rogers
| TKO (punches)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:48
| Hoffman Estates, Illinois
, U.S.
| Defended WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 30–1 (1)
| Andrei Arlovski
| KO (punch)
| Affliction: Day of Reckoning
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3:14
| Anaheim, California
, U.S.
| Defended WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 29–1 (1)
| Tim Sylvia
| Submission (rear naked choke
)
| Affliction: Banned
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:36
| Anaheim, California
, U.S.
| Won inaugural WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 28–1 (1)
| Hong-Man Choi
| Submission (armbar)
| Yarennoka!
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:54
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 27–1 (1)
| Matt Lindland
| Submission (armbar)
| BodogFIGHT
: Clash of the Nations
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:58
| St. Petersburg, Russia
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 26–1 (1)
| Mark Hunt
| Submission (kimura)
| PRIDE Shockwave 2006
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 8:16
| Saitama, Saitama
| Defended Pride Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 25–1 (1)
| Mark Coleman
| Submission (armbar)
| PRIDE 32: The Real Deal
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:17
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, U.S.
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 24–1 (1)
| Wagner Martins
| Submission (strikes)
| PRIDE Shockwave 2005
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:26
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 23–1 (1)
| Mirko Filipović
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Saitama, Saitama
| Defended Pride Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 22–1 (1)
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| PRIDE Bushido 6
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10:00
| Yokohama, Kanagawa
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 21–1 (1)
|Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE Shockwave 2004
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Saitama, Saitama
| Unified Pride Interim Heavyweight Championship; Won 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix
|-
| NC
| style="text-align:center;"| 20–1 (1)
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
| NC (accidental headbutt)
| PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3:52
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Final
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 20–1
| Naoya Ogawa
| Submission (armbar)
| PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:54
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 19–1
| Kevin Randleman
| Submission (kimura)
| PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:33
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 18–1
| Mark Coleman
| Submission (armbar)
| PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:11
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 17–1
| Yuji Nagata
| TKO (strikes)
| Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:02
| Kobe, Hyōgo
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 16–1
| Gary Goodridge
| TKO (soccer kicks and punches)
| PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:09
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 15–1
|Kazuyuki Fujita
| Submission (rear naked choke
)
| PRIDE 26: Reborn
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4:17
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 14–1
| Egidijus Valavicius
| Submission (kimura)
| RINGS
Bushido Rings 7: Adrenalinas
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:11
| Vilnius, Lithuania
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 13–1
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE 25
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Yokohama, Kanagawa
| Won Pride Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 12–1
| Heath Herring
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| PRIDE 23
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 11–1
| Semmy Schilt
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE 21
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 10–1
| Chris Haseman
| TKO (strikes)
| RINGS
: World Title Series Grand Final
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:50
| Yokohama|Yokohama, Kanagawa
| Rings Absolute Class Tournament Final; Won Rings Absolute Class Tournament
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 9–1
| Lee Hasdell
| Submission (guillotine choke
)
| RINGS
: World Title Series 5
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4:10
| Yokohama|Yokohama, Kanagawa
| Rings Absolute Class Tournament Semifinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 8–1
| Ryushi Yanagisawa
| Decision (unanimous)
| RINGS
: World Title Series 4
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| Rings Absolute Class Tournament Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 7–1
| Renato Sobral
| Decision (unanimous)
| RINGS
: 10th Anniversary
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 6–1
| Kerry Schall
| Submission (armbar)
| RINGS
: World Title Series 1
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:47
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 5–1
| Mihail Apostolov
| Submission (rear naked choke
)
| RINGS
Russia: Russia vs. Bulgaria
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:03
| Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast
|
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 4–1
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| RINGS
: King of Kings 2000 Block B
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:17
| Osaka, Kansai
| Rings King of Kings 2000 Tournament 2nd Round; Inadvertent illegal elbow strike reopened existing cut.
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 4–0
| Ricardo Arona
| Decision (unanimous)
| RINGS
: King of Kings 2000 Block B
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Osaka|Osaka, Kansai
| Rings King of Kings 2000 Tournament Opening Round
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 3–0
| Hiroya Takada
| KO (punches)
| RINGS
: Battle Genesis Vol. 6
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:12
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 2–0
| Levon Lagvilava
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| RINGS
: Russia vs. Georgia
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 7:24
| Tula, Tula Oblast
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 1–0
| Martin Lazarov
| Submission (guillotine choke)
| RINGS
: Russia vs. Bulgaria
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:24
| Ekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast
|
Heavyweight (MMA)
The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally groups fighters between .Although many ambiguities exist within the lower weight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the Heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform...
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. 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
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
championship.
Emelianenko has received widespread acclaim from several major publications, including Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, and Sherdog.com
Sherdog
Sherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts . The site is a member of the Crave Online network and provides MMA related content for ESPN.com.- History :...
. Many analysts, as well as former and current fighters, consider Emelianenko to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. He remained undefeated for nearly a decade, during which time he was widely considered the best heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts.
Biography
Emelianenko was born in 1976 in the city of RubizhneRubizhne
Rubizhne is a town in Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine. Its population is 61,657 .The town started growing from a train station built in 1904....
, Luhansk Oblast
Luhansk Oblast
Luhansk Oblast ) is the easternmost oblast of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Luhansk. The oblast was established in 1938 and bore the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast in honor of Kliment Voroshilov....
, Ukraine (then in the USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
). In 1978, when he was two, his family moved within the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to Stary Oskol
Stary Oskol
Stary Oskol is a city in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located south of Moscow, on the Oskol River. Population: 221,163 ; 215,898 ; -History:...
, Belgorod
Belgorod Oblast
Belgorod Oblast is a federal subjects of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Belgorod. Population: 1,532,670 .-History:...
of the Russian SFSR. His mother, Olga Fedorovna, was a teacher and his father, Vladimir Alexandrovich Emelianenko, was a welder. Emelianenko is the second child in the family and has an older sister and two younger brothers, including professional mixed martial artist Alexander Emelianenko. Fedor trains with his youngest brother Ivan, who has competed in Combat Sambo, and plans to begin a career in MMA in 2010.
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
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force...
as a military firefighter. In 1999, he married his wife Oksana, and their daughter Masha was born in the same year. They divorced in 2006. On December 29, 2007, his second daughter, Vasilisa, was born to his long time girlfriend Marina. Emelianenko and Marina married in October 2009. In his spare time, he likes to read, listen to music, and draw. He is a practicing Orthodox Christian and a parishioner at the church of St. Nicholas in Stary Oskol. His confessor is archpriest Andrei Zinoviev. His entrance theme song, oy, to ne vecher
Oy, to ne vecher
Oy, to ne vecher is the incipit of a Russian folk song, also known as "The Cossack's Parable" or as "Stepan Razin's Dream" .It was first published by composer Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt in her collection Songs of the Ural Cossacks after her fieldwork in the Ural District during...
, was performed at his request by archdeacon Andrey Zheleznyakov, solist at the Episcopal Choir of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese.
Emelianenko 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.
Club affiliation
Emelianenko began his mixed martial arts as a member of Russian Top Team (RTT), training with the first generation of Russian RINGSFighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
competitors, such as Volk Han
Volk Han
Magomedkhan Amanulayevich Gamzatkhanov , better known by his alias Volk Han , is a Russian shoot wrestler and later a mixed martial artist renowned for his technical mastery of Sambo and submission victories in shoot wrestling and MMA. He was representing Russia in the Russian RINGS team with Fedor...
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 Sport" ranks to Fedor and his brother Alexander. Emelianenko alleged he was deceived by Pogodin in financial disputes between Pogodin and Emelianenko. After his bout with Gary Goodridge
Gary Goodridge
Gary Goodridge , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian-Canadian former super heavyweight kickboxer and heavyweight mixed martial artist fighting out of Barrie, Ontario. Goodridge is known for his hard-hitting fighting style and showmanship...
, the Emelianenko brothers left Russian Top Team and began to train in St. Petersburg with the Red Devil Sport Club
Red Devil Sport Club
The Red Devil Sport Club is a mixed martial arts academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, founded by Vadim Finkelstein.The team’s main fighter base is made up of Russian and Armenian Sambo fighters who have adapted their style to mixed martial arts, and they regularly compete in full contact combat sambo...
, which is managed by Vadim Finkelstein. To date, Finkelstein is still his manager. Emelianenko is a member of the VOS gym in Holland, where he trains with Johan Vos and Lucien Carbin. Emelianenko has trained with the likes of Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...
, Tyrone Spong
Tyrone Spong
Tyrone "King of The Ring" Spong is a Dutch-Surinamese kickboxer. He is the reigning WFCA Cruiserweight Muay Thai and the former It's Showtime 95MAX World champion, fighting out of Fighting Factory Carbin in Amsterdam, Netherlands....
, and Denis Lebedev
Denis Lebedev
Denis Lebedev , is a Russian professional boxer from Stary Oskol. He is a contender in the Cruiserweight division.-Professional career:...
.
RINGS
Emelianenko made his MMA debut for the Japanese RINGS organization. RINGS had a different set of rules that did not allow head strikes on the ground (which later on would be recognized as one of Emelianenko's biggest strengths).Here Emelianenko suffered his first loss in the sport, a very controversial one that 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. 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 was wearing elbow pads, which Kohsaka was not. Emelianenko says that this elbow reopened a cut sustained in his previous fight against Ricardo Arona
Ricardo Arona
Ricardo Arona is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and PRIDE FC Middleweight Grand Prix finalist. He has competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships and RINGS in his mixed martial arts career, and is a member of Brazilian Top Team.-Abu Dhabi and RINGS:...
. 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). Many MMA fans disregard that loss due to its illegal nature, and considered Emelianenko to be technically undefeated in MMA until he lost to Fabricio Werdum. The tournament was eventually won by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
, who would later be Emelianenko's fiercest rival in MMA. Emelianenko would later avenge the first loss of his career when he rematched Kohsaka at Pride Bushido 6
PRIDE Bushido 6
Pride Bushido 6 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on April 3, 2005...
.
After defeating veteran Renato Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
in an elimination bout, Emelianenko went on fight for the World Heavyweight Class Championship against Bobby Hoffman
Bobby Hoffman
Bobby "The Truth" Hoffman is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. He won his last fight at Mainstream MMA - Inferno against Chuck Grigsby on August 12, 2006...
the same night. However, Hoffman refused to fight Emelianenko, claiming he sustained a injury to his shoulder during his previous match, and forfeited the final. A win was awarded to Emelianenko by default, and he was given the RINGS Heavyweight Class Championship.
On February 15, 2002, Emelianenko defeated Chris Haseman and won the RINGS Absolute Class Tournament, the last tournament ever held by RINGS.
Pride Fighting Championships
Entering the Pride Fighting Championships on the heels of winning the RINGS King of Kings 2002 tournament, Emelianenko debuted at Pride 21PRIDE 21
Pride 21: Demolition was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on June 23, 2002.-Results:...
on June 23, 2002 against the 6 in 11 in (2.11 m), 256 lb (116.1 kg) Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
fighter Semmy Schilt
Semmy Schilt
Semmy Schilt , also known as Sem Schilt, is a Dutch Ashihara karateka, kickboxer, mixed martial artist and four time K-1 World GP champion. He is the first and only fighter in K-1 history to win the championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most GPs won,...
, whom he defeated by unanimous decision. His next opponent was heavyweight Heath Herring
Heath Herring
Heath Herring is an inactive American Heavyweight professional mixed martial artist who attained popularity fighting for PRIDE FC in Japan and most recently fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
, in a contest to establish the number-one contender for the heavyweight title. 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.
Emelianenko was then signed to fight heavily favored Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
for Pride's Heavyweight Championship title at Pride 25
PRIDE 25
Pride 25: Body Blow was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 16, 2003.- Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira:...
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 Emelianenko had participated. Nogueira was considered by many fans to be virtually unbeatable, due to his endurance and submission skills. Emelianenko rocked him early with punches, and Nogueira pulled guard. Emelianenko then survived Nogueira's guard, considered the most dangerous in MMA, and easily defended all of Nogueira's submission attempts, 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.
Three months later Emelianenko embarked on his title reign. His first match was against the former IWGP Heavyweight champion, amateur
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
and professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
Kazuyuki Fujita
Kazuyuki Fujita
is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and a former amateur wrestler. He has fought in mixed martial arts promotions including PRIDE, K-1 and currently fighting in Sengoku....
. A heavy favorite, Emelianenko was expected to make quick work of Fujita, but was caught by a right hook
Hook (boxing)
A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
that stunned him. Badly hurt, he worked his way to a clinch, but was taken down. With Fujita unable to amount a significant offense Emelianenko was able to recover. Emelianenko worked his way 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
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
. Emelianenko reminisced about it in February 2009, "Fujita is the only one who ever hit me right, and he hit hard!".
Next came a one-sided bout against heavy underdog Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge
Gary Goodridge
Gary Goodridge , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian-Canadian former super heavyweight kickboxer and heavyweight mixed martial artist fighting out of Barrie, Ontario. Goodridge is known for his hard-hitting fighting style and showmanship...
at Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on August 10, 2003. This event was host to the quarterfinals of the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix tournament...
. 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. In 2011, Goodridge recalled his fight with Emelianenko; "Fedor hits so hard, I don't remember anything (from the fight). No one has his speed and power combo. He fought for 10 years at the top. He doesn't owe anything else to the sport."
His next fight against New Japan professional wrestler Yuji Nagata
Yuji Nagata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
at Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
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
PRIDE Shockwave 2003
Pride Shockwave 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. Gary Goodridge announced he would retire from Pride. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2003.- Quinton Jackson vs. Ikuhisa Minowa:Jackson defeated Minowa by TKO ...
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!!
K-1 Premium Dynamite!!
K-1 PREMIUM Dynamite!! is an annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held in Japan by the Fighting and Entertainment Group. It began as a co-production between PRIDE Fighting Championships and K-1 held on August 28, 2002...
on the same night. That move upset the managers of PRIDE, who set up an interim title match between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
and Mirko Crocop Filipović
Mirko Filipovic
Mirko Filipović is a former Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, mixed martial artist, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipović was a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2003 through 2007...
, which ended with Nogueira pulling yet another comeback victory, scoring a second round armbar.
Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix 2004
Four months later, he returned to PRIDE, at Total Elimination 2004PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
Pride Total Elimination 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event consisted of the first round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix...
, where he met Pride 2000 Grand Prix winner and former Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
(UFC) Heavyweight Champion Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, former NCAA collegiate wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. In MMA, he was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, and the Pride Fighting...
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 Emelianenko's versatility, as he not only had a good top game with his trademark ground and pound, but a dangerous bottom game from his guard, being able to submit legitimate opponents from his back.
A notable match with Coleman's protégé Kevin "The Monster" Randleman
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
followed just two months later at the tournament's second round
PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
Pride Critical Countdown 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place on June 20th, 2004, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
. Randleman, a two-time Division I NCAA Wrestling Champion for Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, was coming off an upset win over Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović
Mirko Filipovic
Mirko Filipović is a former Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, mixed martial artist, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipović was a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2003 through 2007...
, 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. Emelianenko, seemingly unfazed, rolled over Randleman a few seconds later, getting top position and forcing him to submit with a kimura armlock 1:33 into the first round.
On August 15, 2004, Emelianenko faced six-time All-Japan Judo Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa is a Japanese former world judo champion, Olympic silver medalist, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist...
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. 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. A third meeting was thus scheduled for Shockwave 2004
PRIDE Shockwave 2004
Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...
, which Emelianenko 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. 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 Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian on the feet in the first round, beating him to the punch for the first nine minutes. Nogueira faced great difficulty, getting dropped with punches and tossed to the mat multiple times by Judo throws. He was not able to implement his game plan of putting Emelianenko on his back, save for the final 30 seconds of the first round. He was not able to pull guard for any considerable amount of time. During the second and third rounds, Emelianenko's takedown
Takedown (grappling)
A takedown is a martial arts and combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground, typically with the combatant performing the takedown landing on top. The process of quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known...
defense and counter-punching earned him a unanimous decision victory to retain the heavyweight championship.
Title defense against Mirko Filipović
The following year, Emelianenko signed to fight PRIDE's top heavyweight contender, and former K-1K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović
Mirko Filipovic
Mirko Filipović is a former Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, mixed martial artist, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipović was a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2003 through 2007...
. 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 Emelianenko's younger brother, Alexander Emelianenko. He then made a public challenge to Emelianenko and the bout was supposed to take place in late 2003. After a contract dispute, Emelianenko 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
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
. 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-one challenger for Emelianenko'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
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
, getting knocked out early by ground strikes following a vicious left hook.
Later that year, Mirko began his recovery by defeating Ron Waterman
Ron Waterman
Ron Waterman , is an American mixed martial artist , professional wrestler and celebrity member of the Team Impact motivational group.He holds notable victories over Ricco Rodriguez and Kevin Randleman.-Career:...
, winning his rematch with Kevin Randleman by submission, and scoring a dominant TKO victory over Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, former NCAA collegiate wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. In MMA, he was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, and the Pride Fighting...
in the first round. Those wins put Mirko Filipović again in the spot of number-one 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 Mirko Filipović finally took place at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
Pride Final Conflict 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. This event featured the much anticipated heavyweight title fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop and also the final round of the 2005 Middleweight Tournament...
. In the first round, Emelianenko was stunned and had his nose broken by two stiff jabs from Filipović. He got hit by body kicks that discolored his midsection. Emelianenko was then able to get the fight to the ground and land several body shots, which took a lot of gas out of Filipović. As the fight progressed, Emelianenko became more and more dominant, winning most of the stand up exchanges and scoring several takedowns. After 20 minutes, Emelianenko was awarded a unanimous decision victory.
Later PRIDE Years
Following his successful title defense against Mirko Filipović at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
Pride Final Conflict 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. This event featured the much anticipated heavyweight title fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop and also the final round of the 2005 Middleweight Tournament...
, Emelianenko came back on New Year's eve, where he outclassed the 450-pound Brazilian Zuluzinho in a non-title bout. Emelianenko 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
PRIDE 32
Pride 32: The Real Deal was a mixed martial arts event and was held by the Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place on October 21, 2006, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
. 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.
Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt ; is a New Zealand kickboxer and mixed martial artist of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is known for his raw strength, iron chin and knockout power. He won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final...
at Shockwave 2006
PRIDE Shockwave 2006
Pride Shockwave 2006 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on December 31, 2006. In Japan, this event was called...
. Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett
Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
was originally slated to fight Emelianenko for the Heavyweight title, but turned down the fight, claiming not to be in peak physical condition. With Filipović's departure to the UFC organization in late 2006, Mark Hunt became the number-one 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
Side control
Side control is a dominant ground grappling position where the top combatant is lying perpendicularly over the face-up bottom combatant in such a way that the legs are free and he or she exerts considerable control over the combatant on the bottom...
. At five minutes into the first round, Hunt made two attempts at an americana on Emelianenko's left arm but failed to complete them. 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.
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 BodogFightBodogFight
bodogFight was a mixed martial arts promotion founded by online gambling magnate Calvin Ayre. It was a part of Ayre's bodog.com Entertainment Group....
against Matt Lindland
Matt Lindland
Matthew James Lindland is an American mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler and politician. He won the Oregon Republican Party's nomination for the Oregon House of Representatives, District 52 seat on May 20, 2008....
. 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
Middleweight (MMA)
The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...
to heavyweight) for the match and came in weighing 212.5 lb (96.5 kg) to Emelianenko's 230 lb (104.5 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
Bear hug
In wrestling, a bear hug, also known as a bodylock, is a grappling clinch hold and stand-up grappling position where the arms are wrapped around the opponent, either around the opponent's chest, midsection, or thighs; sometimes with one or both of the opponents arms pinned to the opponent's body...
takedown. When Lindland lifted Emelianenko from his feet, Emelianenko reversed the takedown, landing in Lindland's half guard
Half guard
Half guard, or alternatively half mount, is a ground grappling position where one combatant is lying on the other, with the bottom combatant having one leg entangled. Sometimes the bottom combatant is said to be in half guard, while the top combatant is in a half mount respectively. The half guard...
. The fight then remained on the ground where Emelianenko won by submission via armbar at 2:58 of the first round.
M-1 Global
After the purchase of Pride Fighting Championships by LorenzoLorenzo Fertitta
Lorenzo Joseph Fertitta is an American businessman, casino executive, sports promoter and entrepreneur. Fertitta resides in Las Vegas with his wife Teresa and three children.- Education :...
and Frank Fertitta III
Frank Fertitta III
Frank J. Fertitta III is current CEO of Station Casinos. He is also an owner of Zuffa LLC, which is the entity that runs the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Fertitta resides in Las Vegas with his wife Jill and three children.-Education:...
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. In a June 2007 interview with the Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
, Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
suggested that Emelianenko was on his way to the UFC. Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
has expressed interest in signing Emelianenko, but considers his management team to be the primary barrier left to the signing of a contract, whereas Finkelstein has cited difficult negotiations as the reason. 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
UFC 76
UFC 76: Knockout was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The event took place on September 22, 2007 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California...
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 revealed his intent to set up a unification bout with UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
as his first UFC fight. Nevertheless, these negotiations broke down, as Emelianenko committed to a non-exclusive, two-year and six-fight deal with M-1 Global
M-1 Global
M-1 Global is the mixed martial arts promotion based in Russia - The Netherlands which organizes between 40 and 50 competitions per year...
in October 2007.
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!Yarennoka!
Yarennoka! was a mixed martial arts event that took place on December 31, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The event was promoted by the Yarrenoka! Executive Committee, composed of former Pride Fighting Championships executives, and held in association with Fighting and...
, taking place in Japan and organized by former Pride staff with support from M-1 Global, FEG
Fighting and Entertainment Group
Fighting and Entertainment Group is the leading Japanese combat sport promoter. Its current president is Sadaharu Tanikawa and it is the parent company behind the mixed martial arts series Dream and formerly, the largest kickboxing promotion in the world, K-1.On December 31, 2010 after the Dream...
, 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
HDNet
HDNet is a men's interest television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format and available via cable and satellite television...
cable network. Emelianenko defeated Choi in the opening round by submission via an armbar.
Dream
On February 13, 2008, Emelianenko attended a press conference held by DreamDREAM (mixed martial arts)
Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
, 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. M-1 Global CEO Vadim Finkelstein recently revealed of their plans to organize a fight for Fedor in co-operation with Dream, possibly on New Year's Eve in Japan.
Affliction
On July 19, 2008, at Affliction: BannedAffliction: Banned
Affliction: Banned was a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by Affliction Clothing and Adrenaline MMA. It took place on July 19, 2008 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California...
, Emelianenko faced former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia
Tim Sylvia
Timothy Deane Sylvia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, professional wrestler, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion. He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp and is part of their MFSE group...
. Sylvia was coming off a submission
Submission
Submission is the acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the power of one's superior or superiors.Submission may also refer to:* Submission/Submitter , an Islamic organisation...
loss via guillotine choke
Guillotine choke
The guillotine choke is a chokehold in martial arts and wrestling applied from in front of the opponent. The choke involves using the arms to encircle the opponent's neck in a fashion similar to a guillotine. The technique is either a type of tracheal compression restraint that prevents air flow...
at the hands of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
at UFC 81
UFC 81
UFC 81: Breaking Point was a mixed martial arts event held on February 2, 2008 by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip....
in a title fight for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. Sylvia was ranked as the #4 heavyweight fighter in MMA by Sherdog.com
Sherdog
Sherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts . The site is a member of the Crave Online network and provides MMA related content for ESPN.com.- History :...
prior to his fight with Emelianenko.
Emelianenko defeated Sylvia in 36 seconds. He dropped Sylvia with a lightning quick punch combination, took his back and then finished the fight via submission
Submission
Submission is the acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the power of one's superior or superiors.Submission may also refer to:* Submission/Submitter , an Islamic organisation...
due to a rear naked choke
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
. Sylvia said in the post-fight press conference, "I know that I'm one of the best in the world, I was amazed at how good Fedor is. He hurt me right away and submitted me. The guy's a stud. I don't even think he's human. That guy hits hard. I've never been hit that hard before."
UFC President Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
, who had been relentless in his criticism of Emelianenko, admitted to being impressed with Emelianenko's performance against the ex-UFC champion Sylvia. When asked if the submission win changed his opinion on Fedor, White said; "It does. Tim Sylvia was a real opponent."
After the fight, UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
entered the ring and Emelianenko expressed his desire to fight Couture next. However, Couture's contract with the UFC prevented the fight from occurring outside of the organization.
On January 24, 2009, at Affliction: Day of Reckoning, Emelianenko fought former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
, who, like Sylvia, was widely considered to be a top-5 heavyweight at the time of the fight. Arlovski was on a five fight win streak and was ranked as high as the #2 heavyweight fighter in MMA by Sherdog.com. Arlovski had some early success in the fight, landing punches and leg kicks. However, as Emelianenko was backed into the ropes, Arlovski attempted a flying knee and Emelianenko was able to counter with an overhand right which resulted in a brutal knockout of Arlovski at 3:14 of the first round. The knockout victory was awarded knockout of the year for 2009 by Sherdog.
Emelianenko met Shinya Aoki
Shinya Aoki
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He is one of the most prominent...
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. In another special exhibition match, Emelianenko met Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi, born Geghard Movsesian is an Armenian-Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is fighting out of Team Jurojin in Leiden, Netherlands and is a member of Russian Red Devil Sport Club and Netherlands' Golden Glory...
, a friend and teammate, during M-1 Global: Breakthrough
M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough
M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough was a mixed martial arts event promoted by M-1 Global on August 28, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas. The event aired live on HDNet. The main event featured Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal taking on Mark Kerr. The card also featured an exhibition match between Fedor...
, held in Kansas City on August 28. 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.
Emelianenko was scheduled to fight former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett
Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
on August 1, 2009, at Affliction: Trilogy
Affliction: Trilogy
Affliction: Trilogy was a mixed martial arts event scheduled to be promoted by Affliction Entertainment on August 1, 2009 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California....
, but on July 22 Barnett was denied his license to compete by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for anabolic steroids. On July 23, 2009, Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
– who was already on the card – was reported as a likely replacement, but the next day Affliction canceled the event citing limited time to find a suitable replacement and inadequate time to promote the fight.
Negotiations with the UFC
After the collapse of Affliction, UFC President Dana WhiteDana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
ferociously tried to sign Emelianenko to an exclusive contract with the UFC several times. White said of Emelianenko; "He has become my obsession. I want it (him in the UFC) worse than the fans want it." Widely considered to be the best heavyweight MMA fighter at the time, Emelianenko would receive an immediate title shot against then current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog...
, a fight which White deemed would be "huge". After reportedly offering Emelianenko a large contract worth just under 2 million US dollars per fight, with incentive to make much more based on pay per view buys for fights he headlines, negotiations fell apart after Emelianenko's management team demanded a co-promotion between the UFC and M-1 Global
M-1 Global
M-1 Global is the mixed martial arts promotion based in Russia - The Netherlands which organizes between 40 and 50 competitions per year...
, terms which White deemed unacceptable. However, other media outlets placed much of the blame on the UFC: "Trying to get out in front of the public relations skirmish that would follow the UFC’s failure to sign Emeliananeko, a UFC insider leaked bogus contract terms to Carmichael Dave, a California-based radio host. The tactic was effective. Fans and the online media turned against the Russian and his team. The tactic also may have backfired. Emelianenko was reportedly softening and considering signing with the UFC. The leak, which M-1 Global criticized as inaccurate and inappropriate, shut down negotiations for good."
Strikeforce
Following the failed negotiations with the UFC, Emelianenko signed a three-fight contract with StrikeforceStrikeforce
Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed that Emelianenko's debut would take place on November 7, broadcast nationally on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
Emelianenko's first fight in Strikeforce was against the then-undefeated Brett Rogers
Brett Rogers
Brett Charles Rogers is an African-American mixed martial artist who fights in the heavyweight division. Rogers has fought in EliteXC and Strikeforce.-Biography:...
in the main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rogers was a mixed martial arts event held on November 7, 2009. It was the first MMA event on network television since the now-defunct EliteXC promotion broadcast its final event, EliteXC: Heat, on CBS on October 4, 2008. The event had a four-fight main card...
on November 7, 2009. Rogers was coming off a knockout win over Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
and was ranked as the #6 heavyweight fighter in MMA by Sherdog.com at the time of the fight. In the fight, Emelianenko landed early in the first round, but he failed to secure a submission after two attempts. In the second round he knocked Rogers down with an overhand right, then punched him three more times on the mat to secure the victory via TKO at 1:48. This bout would mark the first time Emelianenko competed in a cage. With the win, Emelianenko defeated his third straight top-10 heavyweight opponent.
Emelianenko suffered his first loss in 10 years on June 26, 2010 against Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, a two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, a two-time ADCC world heavyweight champion and European Jiu-Jitsu champion. He holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai. Werdum has competed in Pride Fighting Championships, the...
. After knocking Werdum down only seconds into the first round, Emelianenko closed in, but Werdum secured a deep triangle and an armbar from his guard, and Fedor was forced to tap. The loss was considered a large upset; in the process, Werdum became the first MMA fighter to attain a non-controversial victory over Emelianenko.
Emelianenko stated through a translator on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani
Ariel Helwani
- Biography :Helwani was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he grew up in a Jewish family in the Town of Mount Royal and Westmount and attended the Akiva School and Herzliah High School. In 2004, he graduated from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He works for...
that he considered retirement before the Werdum fight due to accumulating injuries and ageing.
In January 2011, it was announced that Fedor had agreed to enter the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, and would face Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva on February 12 in the first quarterfinal match. After a close first round, Silva took control in round 2. After passing to mount, he unleashed a barrage of ground-and-pound that ultimately caused Emelianenko's right eye to swell shut. Ringside doctors called a stop to the fight, stating that Emelianenko could not see and they would not allow him to continue.
Emelianenko faced Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson
Daniel Jeffery Henderson, is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, who competes as a middleweight and light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion...
on July 30, 2011 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...
. After both fighters landed significant punches in the first round, Fedor knocked Henderson down with a combination of strikes. Fedor followed Henderson to the mat and began to ground-and-pound him but Henderson was able to sweep and reverse position before delivering a punch underneath Fedor's armpit which landed on his chin, knocking Fedor face first into the mat. Henderson continued to punch Fedor until referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop the fight. Dean explained the stoppage saying, "The fight is over when he's unconscious. Because he comes back swiftly after I've already stepped in and stopped the fight, I can't restart the fight. Dan's still throwing punches, but once I've touched Dan, I've stopped the fight. If I was to do it again – if I see a fighter face down receiving shots, I'm going to step in and stop the fight. I can't predict how long he's going to be unconscious for."
Following his third loss in a row, Emelianenko was reportedly released from Strikeforce. UFC president Dana White stated he was being released, “Yeah, he’s being cut.” However, Emelianenko disputed White's claims, saying, "That's Dana White's style to make comments. I didn't have a contract with Strikeforce. My current contract is with Showtime. So I think people shouldn't pay attention to these "loud" comments." According to M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan, Fedor was only under contract to Showtime and from there he fought under the Strikeforce banner, but was never under direct employ of Zuffa, and therefore was not "cut" by the organization. "Strikeforce is not the only MMA promotion on Showtime so there are a number of options for Fedor which will be looked at," Kogan told MMA Weekly.
Post Strikeforce
Emelianenko fought Jeff MonsonJeff Monson
Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...
at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson
M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson
M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson was a mixed martial arts event held by M-1 Global. The event took place on November 20, 2011 at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia....
on November 20, 2011 at the Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia and won the fight via unanimous decision.
He is expected to next compete at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoko 2011 , where is most likely opponent stands to be Olympic judoka gold medalist Satoshi Ishii
Satoshi Ishii
is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial artist noted for winning a gold medal in Olympic Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games and two All-Japan Judo Championships...
.
Championships and accomplishments
- Fighting Network RINGSFighting Network RINGSFighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
- RINGS Openweight Championship (1 Time, Last)
- 2002 RINGS Absolute Class Tournament Winner
- PRIDE Fighting Championships
- PRIDE World Heavyweight Championship (One time; Last)
- PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix ChampionPRIDE Shockwave 2004Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...
- World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts
- WAMMA Heavyweight Championship (One time; First; Last)
- Black Belt MagazineBlack Belt MagazineBlack Belt is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports founded in 1961 by Mitoshi Uyehara. During the early years of the publication, Uyehara was a hands-on owner and publisher...
- 2004 NHB Fighter of the Year
- SherdogSherdogSherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts . The site is a member of the Crave Online network and provides MMA related content for ESPN.com.- History :...
- 2009 Knockout of the Year vs Andrei Arlovski
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 2005 Most Outstanding Fighter
Mixed martial arts record
|-| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 32–4 (1)
| Jeff Monson
Jeff Monson
Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...
| Decision (unanimous)
| M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson
M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson
M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson was a mixed martial arts event held by M-1 Global. The event took place on November 20, 2011 at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia....
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
|
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–4 (1)
| Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson
Daniel Jeffery Henderson, is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, who competes as a middleweight and light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion...
| TKO (punches)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4:12
| Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–3 (1)
| Antonio Silva
Antonio Silva (fighter)
Antonio Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He initially fought in the super heavyweight division, but currently competes in the heavyweight weight class. He is the first and last EliteXC heavyweight champion...
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Silva was a mixed martial arts event. It took place on February 12th, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Strikeforce
Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–2 (1)
| Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, a two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, a two-time ADCC world heavyweight champion and European Jiu-Jitsu champion. He holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai. Werdum has competed in Pride Fighting Championships, the...
| Submission (triangle
Triangle choke
A triangle choke, or sankaku-jime in Judo, is a type of figure-four chokehold which strangles the opponent by encircling the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle...
/armbar)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce on June 26, 2010 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.-Background:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:09
| San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 31–1 (1)
| Brett Rogers
Brett Rogers
Brett Charles Rogers is an African-American mixed martial artist who fights in the heavyweight division. Rogers has fought in EliteXC and Strikeforce.-Biography:...
| TKO (punches)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rogers was a mixed martial arts event held on November 7, 2009. It was the first MMA event on network television since the now-defunct EliteXC promotion broadcast its final event, EliteXC: Heat, on CBS on October 4, 2008. The event had a four-fight main card...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:48
| Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Defended WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 30–1 (1)
| Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
| KO (punch)
| Affliction: Day of Reckoning
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3:14
| Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Defended WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 29–1 (1)
| Tim Sylvia
Tim Sylvia
Timothy Deane Sylvia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, professional wrestler, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion. He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp and is part of their MFSE group...
| Submission (rear naked choke
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
)
| Affliction: Banned
Affliction: Banned
Affliction: Banned was a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by Affliction Clothing and Adrenaline MMA. It took place on July 19, 2008 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:36
| Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Won inaugural WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 28–1 (1)
| Hong-Man Choi
| Submission (armbar)
| Yarennoka!
Yarennoka!
Yarennoka! was a mixed martial arts event that took place on December 31, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The event was promoted by the Yarrenoka! Executive Committee, composed of former Pride Fighting Championships executives, and held in association with Fighting and...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:54
| Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 27–1 (1)
| Matt Lindland
Matt Lindland
Matthew James Lindland is an American mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler and politician. He won the Oregon Republican Party's nomination for the Oregon House of Representatives, District 52 seat on May 20, 2008....
| Submission (armbar)
| BodogFIGHT
BodogFight
bodogFight was a mixed martial arts promotion founded by online gambling magnate Calvin Ayre. It was a part of Ayre's bodog.com Entertainment Group....
: Clash of the Nations
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:58
| St. Petersburg, Russia
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 26–1 (1)
| Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt ; is a New Zealand kickboxer and mixed martial artist of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is known for his raw strength, iron chin and knockout power. He won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final...
| Submission (kimura)
| PRIDE Shockwave 2006
PRIDE Shockwave 2006
Pride Shockwave 2006 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on December 31, 2006. In Japan, this event was called...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 8:16
| Saitama, Saitama
| Defended Pride Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 25–1 (1)
| Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, former NCAA collegiate wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. In MMA, he was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, and the Pride Fighting...
| Submission (armbar)
| PRIDE 32: The Real Deal
PRIDE 32
Pride 32: The Real Deal was a mixed martial arts event and was held by the Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place on October 21, 2006, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:17
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 24–1 (1)
| Wagner Martins
Zuluzinho
Wágner da Conceição Martins , better known as Zuluzinho , is a Brazilian vale tudo fighter and mixed martial artist. He is the son of Vale Tudo legend Rei Zulu. Wagner was raised by his grandmother and works as a security guard in a number of reggae clubs in northern Brazil. Following in his...
| Submission (strikes)
| PRIDE Shockwave 2005
PRIDE Shockwave 2005
Pride Shockwave 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2005. In Japan, the event was called "Otoko Matsuri 2005 – Itadaki"...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:26
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 23–1 (1)
| Mirko Filipović
Mirko Filipovic
Mirko Filipović is a former Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, mixed martial artist, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipović was a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2003 through 2007...
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
PRIDE Final Conflict 2005
Pride Final Conflict 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. This event featured the much anticipated heavyweight title fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop and also the final round of the 2005 Middleweight Tournament...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Saitama, Saitama
| Defended Pride Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 22–1 (1)
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| PRIDE Bushido 6
PRIDE Bushido 6
Pride Bushido 6 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on April 3, 2005...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10:00
| Yokohama, Kanagawa
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 21–1 (1)
|Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE Shockwave 2004
PRIDE Shockwave 2004
Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Saitama, Saitama
| Unified Pride Interim Heavyweight Championship; Won 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix
PRIDE Shockwave 2004
Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...
|-
| NC
| style="text-align:center;"| 20–1 (1)
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
| NC (accidental headbutt)
| PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
Pride Final Conflict 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event held the final round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3:52
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Final
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 20–1
| Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa is a Japanese former world judo champion, Olympic silver medalist, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist...
| Submission (armbar)
| PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
Pride Final Conflict 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event held the final round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:54
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 19–1
| Kevin Randleman
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
| Submission (kimura)
| PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
Pride Critical Countdown 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place on June 20th, 2004, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:33
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 18–1
| Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, former NCAA collegiate wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. In MMA, he was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, and the Pride Fighting...
| Submission (armbar)
| PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
Pride Total Elimination 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event consisted of the first round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:11
| Saitama, Saitama
| Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 17–1
| Yuji Nagata
Yuji Nagata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
| TKO (strikes)
| Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003: Inoki Festival was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing event promoted by Antonio Inoki on December 31, 2003 at the Kobe Wing Stadium in Kobe, Japan. It was the follow-up to Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 and Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:02
| Kobe, Hyōgo
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 16–1
| Gary Goodridge
Gary Goodridge
Gary Goodridge , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian-Canadian former super heavyweight kickboxer and heavyweight mixed martial artist fighting out of Barrie, Ontario. Goodridge is known for his hard-hitting fighting style and showmanship...
| TKO (soccer kicks and punches)
| PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on August 10, 2003. This event was host to the quarterfinals of the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix tournament...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:09
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 15–1
|Kazuyuki Fujita
Kazuyuki Fujita
is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and a former amateur wrestler. He has fought in mixed martial arts promotions including PRIDE, K-1 and currently fighting in Sengoku....
| Submission (rear naked choke
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
)
| PRIDE 26: Reborn
PRIDE 26
Pride 26: Bad to the Bone was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on June 8, 2003....
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4:17
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 14–1
| Egidijus Valavicius
| Submission (kimura)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
Bushido Rings 7: Adrenalinas
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:11
| Vilnius, Lithuania
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 13–1
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE 25
PRIDE 25
Pride 25: Body Blow was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 16, 2003.- Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Yokohama, Kanagawa
| Won Pride Heavyweight Championship
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 12–1
| Heath Herring
Heath Herring
Heath Herring is an inactive American Heavyweight professional mixed martial artist who attained popularity fighting for PRIDE FC in Japan and most recently fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| PRIDE 23
PRIDE 23
Pride 23: Championship Chaos 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on November 24, 2002.- Jerrel Venetiaan vs. Hirotaka Yokoi:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 11–1
| Semmy Schilt
Semmy Schilt
Semmy Schilt , also known as Sem Schilt, is a Dutch Ashihara karateka, kickboxer, mixed martial artist and four time K-1 World GP champion. He is the first and only fighter in K-1 history to win the championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most GPs won,...
| Decision (unanimous)
| PRIDE 21
PRIDE 21
Pride 21: Demolition was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on June 23, 2002.-Results:...
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Saitama, Saitama
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 10–1
| Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman is a former Australian mixed martial artist. He is currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division.He lost his fight at Spartan Reality Fight 9 against Bill Mahood in 2004, retiring afterwards...
| TKO (strikes)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: World Title Series Grand Final
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:50
| Yokohama|Yokohama, Kanagawa
| Rings Absolute Class Tournament Final; Won Rings Absolute Class Tournament
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 9–1
| Lee Hasdell
Lee Hasdell
Lee Hasdell is a former British mixed martial artist, kickboxer and promoter. He promoted the first professional mixed martial arts events in the United Kingdom. Lee Hasdell began his professional career as a Kickboxer in 1989, eventually winning three British Kickboxing titles...
| Submission (guillotine choke
Guillotine choke
The guillotine choke is a chokehold in martial arts and wrestling applied from in front of the opponent. The choke involves using the arms to encircle the opponent's neck in a fashion similar to a guillotine. The technique is either a type of tracheal compression restraint that prevents air flow...
)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: World Title Series 5
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4:10
| Yokohama|Yokohama, Kanagawa
| Rings Absolute Class Tournament Semifinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 8–1
| Ryushi Yanagisawa
Ryūshi Yanagisawa
Ryūshi Yanagisawa is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer. His real name is Atsushi Yanagisawa . As a martial artist, he competed in K-1, Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling and Fighting Network RINGS and holds victories over Oleg Taktarov, Paul Varelans, Vernon White, Jason...
| Decision (unanimous)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: World Title Series 4
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| Rings Absolute Class Tournament Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 7–1
| Renato Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
| Decision (unanimous)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: 10th Anniversary
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 6–1
| Kerry Schall
Kerry Schall
Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division. His nickname "Meat Truck" is for his huge size and power...
| Submission (armbar)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: World Title Series 1
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:47
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 5–1
| Mihail Apostolov
| Submission (rear naked choke
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
Russia: Russia vs. Bulgaria
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1:03
| Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
|
|-
| Loss
| style="text-align:center;"| 4–1
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: King of Kings 2000 Block B
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:17
| Osaka, Kansai
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
| Rings King of Kings 2000 Tournament 2nd Round; Inadvertent illegal elbow strike reopened existing cut.
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 4–0
| Ricardo Arona
Ricardo Arona
Ricardo Arona is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and PRIDE FC Middleweight Grand Prix finalist. He has competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships and RINGS in his mixed martial arts career, and is a member of Brazilian Top Team.-Abu Dhabi and RINGS:...
| Decision (unanimous)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: King of Kings 2000 Block B
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5:00
| Osaka|Osaka, Kansai
| Rings King of Kings 2000 Tournament Opening Round
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 3–0
| Hiroya Takada
| KO (punches)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: Battle Genesis Vol. 6
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0:12
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 2–0
| Levon Lagvilava
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: Russia vs. Georgia
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 7:24
| Tula, Tula Oblast
Tula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
|
|-
| Win
| style="text-align:center;"| 1–0
| Martin Lazarov
| Submission (guillotine choke)
| RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
: Russia vs. Bulgaria
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2:24
| Ekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast
|
Mixed martial arts
| Status | |Championship | |Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | March 16, 2003 – c. March 2007 | PRIDE Heavyweight Championship | Heavyweight | Yokohama, Japan |
| Winner | 2004 | PRIDE World Grand Prix | Heavyweight | Saitama, Japan |
| Winner | 2002 | RINGS Absolute Class Tournament | Open weight | Yokohama, Japan |
| Winner | 2001 | RINGS Heavyweight Class Tournament | Heavyweight | Tokyo, Japan |
Judo
| Status | |Championship | |Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th | April 1, 2000 | Dutch Grand Prix | 100 kg (220.5 lb) | Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre... , Netherlands |
| 3rd | December 5, 1999 | Russian National Championships | Open weight | Kstovo Kstovo Kstovo is a town and the administrative center of Kstovsky District of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Volga River, southeast of Nizhny Novgorod. Population: -History:... , Russia |
| 3rd | February 7, 1999 | Sofia Liberation A-Team | 100 kg (220.5 lb) | Sofia Sofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated... , Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... |
| 3rd | January 24, 1999 | Moscow International Tournament | 100 kg (220.5 lb) | Moscow, Russia |
| 3rd | November 30, 1998 | Russian National Championships | 100 kg (220.5 lb) | Kstovo Kstovo Kstovo is a town and the administrative center of Kstovsky District of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Volga River, southeast of Nizhny Novgorod. Population: -History:... , Russia |
Sambo
| Status | |Championship | |Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | 2010 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | 100 kg (220.5 lb)+ | Krasnokamsk Krasnokamsk Krasnokamsk is a town of krai significance in Perm Krai, Russia, located on the right bank of the Kama River, west of Perm by road. Population: Municipally, the town territory is incorporated as Krasnokamsky Municipal District.-History:... , Russia |
| Winner | 2009 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | 100 kg (220.5 lb)+ | Kstovo, Russia |
| 3rd | 2008 | World Combat Sambo Championships | Heavyweight | Prague Prague Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million... , Czech Republic |
| Winner | 2008 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | 100 kg (220.5 lb)+ | St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Winner | 2007 | World Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Winner | 2007 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Buryat Republic, Russia |
| Winner | 2006 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Buryat Republic, Russia |
| Winner | 2005 | World Combat Sambo Championships | Heavyweight | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Winner | 2002 | World Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Panama City Panama City Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the... , Panama Panama Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The... |
| Winner | 2002 | World Combat Sambo Championships | Heavyweight | Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace... , Greece |
| Winner | 2002 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Moscow, Russia |
| 3rd | 2000 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Orenburg Orenburg Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m... , Russia |
| Winner | 1998 | Russian Armed Forces Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Russia |
| 2nd | 1998 | Russian Armed Forces Combat Sambo Championships | Open weight | Russia |
| 3rd | 1998 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | Heavyweight | Kaliningrad Kaliningrad Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea... , Russia |
| Winner | 1997 | European Combat Sambo Championships | Heavyweight | Tbilisi Tbilisi Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936... , Georgia Georgia (country) Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of... |
| Winner | 1997 | Russian Combat Sambo Championships | Heavyweight | St. Petersburg, Russia |
External links
- Fedor Emelianenko "The Last Emperor" Official Website: news, fights, videos, photos.
- The Official Site of Fedor Emelianenko
- Emelianenko Fedor Profile at K-1K-1K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...