November 17, 2011 – Were you aware that Fedor Emelianenko (31-4) was fighting this weekend? It wouldn’t be surprising if you and many others weren’t considering the fact that the man once thought of as the most efficient killing machine in the world of MMA has fallen so far from grace as of late. “The Last Emperor” went 32-1 while running roughshod in Pride FC and subsequently Affliction after his move to fight in the US in the summer of 2008. After the folding of the latter promotion (largely credited to bad financial moves including the M-1/Fedor deal), Fedor would then move on to Strikeforce and debut with a win over Brett Rogers in November 2009.
That would be his last victory.
Since then, Fedor has gone 0-3 with losses to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva, and Dan Henderson. Those three losses also resulted in the loss of an aura that once made him arguably the world’s most feared fighter along with the loss of his job in the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce. It was thought after his loss to Henderson (and before that after his loss to Silva) that Fedor would retire with dignity and go off into the good night to enjoy the quiet life in his hometown of Stary Oskol, Russia but that’s not the case.
He’s returning one more time to try and make things right with a win in his home country.
Fighting this Sunday, November 20th, at the Olympic Arena in Moscow for the aptly-titled M-1 Global: ‘Fedor vs. Monson’ event, Fedor will be taking on former UFC heavyweight #1 contender Jeff Monson (42-12). By all accounts, this is a make it-or-break it fight against “The Snowman.” Five years his senior at the age of 40, Jeff too may be considered a fighter past his own prime yet he’s won 9 out of his last 10, albeit against lesser competition. The question now remains whether Fedor can get past the 2x ADCC champion to make another push ahead or retire with the honor of a win.
What do our readers think? Can Fedor do it just one more time? We’ll find out either way this coming weekend but chime in with your thoughts and enjoy this highlight of the Fedor in his prime.
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