UFC president Dana White hasn’t had many kind words for Fedor Emelianenko, the Russian heavyweight who was at one time considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
However, MMA Weekly is reporting that White finally conceded that Emelianenko is one of the greatest heavyweights the sport has ever seen.
“Do I think that Fedor is one of the greatest heavyweights ever? Yes, he’s one of the greatest heavyweights ever. I’ll give you that,” the site quotes White as saying.
But even these accolades seem like a laboured concession from White, considering both the Russian’s achievements and the UFC president’s frustrations in dealing with him over the years.
Before his retirement this summer, Emelianenko went on a jaw-dropping 29-fight undefeated run, which included winning the Pride heavyweight title and taking apart the who’s-who of MMA’s heavyweight fraternity.
It was these achievements which led to White’s forlorn attempts to sign ‘The Last Emperor’ to the UFC, attempts which were constantly thwarted by Emellianenko’s management and that have clearly left a bitter taste in White’s mouth.
Even now, despite finally conceding the Russian is one of the greatest heavyweights the sport has ever produced, White qualified his remarks, adding: “Is he one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time? You’re out of your minds.”
How anyone could consider a fighter one of the greatest heavyweights ever but not one of the greatest mixed martial artists is beyond this writer. But White reserves those accolades for men who have fought for the UFC, such as Anderson Silva.
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