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Strikeforce heavyweight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva earned his third straight victory and may have ended the career of mixed martial arts heavyweight icon Fedor Emelianenko Saturday night.
The two fighters squared off in the opening quarterfinal bout of the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Fedor weighed in at 230 lbs, while Silva hit the scales at 264 lbs and reportedly weighed over 280 lbs at fight time. That 30 – 50 lb difference in weights was the key factor Saturday night.
In the first round both men kept the fight standing for most of the round, exchanging some spirited punches, Fedor using his looping right. When both men went into the clinch Silva was able to use his size to pin the Russian against the cage, but was unable to accomplish much or possibly taking things cautiously weary of Fedor’s ability to surprise opponents.
The second was a very different round with Silva scoring an early takedown and using his size to control the fight from top position. Fedor was unable to prevent “Bigfoot” from achieving mount position and the big Brazilian used a mix of ground-and-pound and submission attempts to dominate.
Fedor showed great heart by constantly working for an escape as hammerfists reigned down on his head, then giving up his back and rolling to his back again to avoid a rear-nake choke submission. Silva would change tactics and attempt an arm triangle, but still the Russian was able to hang on.
Fans the world wide were hoping that their favorite heavyweight would pull off one of his trademark come-from-behind victories. Nearing the end of the second, Silva would attempt a kneebar unsuccessfully and give his ankle up to Fedor. Fans hearts leapt into their mouths as they hoped he’d pull off the submission with just 10 seconds left, but Silva simply wagged his finger to signal that it was not going to happen.
Both fighters would go to their respective corners and the cameras would show a brutally beaten Fedor Emelianenko. His right eye was swollen shut, his forehead reddened from hammerfists, and a bloody battered nose.
That was all the cage doctor needed to see and signaled to the referee Dan Miragliotta to end the fight.
Both fighters were not immediately aware of the stoppage but after some confusing moments an astonished “Bigfoot” Silva seemed stunned by the referees call. When asked about his thoughts Silva offered the greatest respect to his opponent and was very happy that he had a chance to show the world that he was one of the best.
A dejected Fedor noted that he failed to adapt early and spoke of retirement, noting that maybe it was “God’s will” that he hang up his gloves after losing so definitively.
That may be the last time we will see the Russian fight.
In his time he was the greatest in the World, but that was a time when heavyweight fighters didn’t top the scales at 265 lbs for each fight. Size was definitely a factor on this night, I guess we’ll always have PRIDE.