Who said Fedor Emelianenko couldn’t learn how to adapt and evolve in mixed martial arts?
It appears the Russian heavyweight is taking his upcoming bout with Pedro Rizzo pretty seriously, as Emelianenko is put through a variety of drills and exercises ahead of his June 21st matchup.
And he has even called upon some the country’s top fighters in Ernesto Hoost, Peter Teijsse and Marco de Witt, training at the Vital Skills camp in the Netherlands.
The video certainly puts a different perspective on Emelianenko regarding his dedication and work ethic, especially after suffering three consecutive losses under the Strikeforce banner.
However, it’s frustrating to wonder what “The Last Emperor” could have made of his potential after seeing this footage, and how much more dominate he could have become while still competing at an elite level.
If his current training regimen is any indication, Emelianenko still intends on testing his skills against the best heavyweights in the world, putting the retirement rumors to rest.
Rizzo might be a tad shy of being considered as one of the best, however. But, nevertheless, a win over the 37-year-old Brazilian would add another former UFC champion to the Russian’s resume.
That might not mean much when comparing it to some of the sport’s top heavyweights in Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, but it does say a lot for Emelianenko, who continues to remain relevant in the heavyweight division despite not fighting in the UFC.
Emelianenko looks in shape and it should definitely motivate him to pick up his third straight win.
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