Tag: Fedor Emelianenko

Watch: When Fedor Emelianenko Overpowered a 400-Pound Giant in just 26 Seconds

Fedor Emelianenko vs. ZuluzinhoThe bout between Fedor Emelianenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time and the towering,…

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho

The bout between Fedor Emelianenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time and the towering, 400-pound Zuluzinho became one of the most memorable and bizarre encounters in the history of MMA. One of the best freakshow matches we’ve seen in MMA.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho

Russian powerhouse Fedor Emelianenko had already established himself as a dominant force in MMA by the time he faced Zuluzinho. A four-time Combat Sambo World Champion and seven-time Russian National Sambo Champion. Fedor’s reputation skyrocketed during his reign in PRIDE Fighting Championships, where he was undefeated from 2002 to 2007 and held the PRIDE Heavyweight Championship.

On the other side of the PRIDE FC ring stood Zuluzinho, a fighter whose massive 6’7″, 400-pound frame was as imposing. Zuluzinho struggled against top-tier competition, suffering losses to notable figures such as Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Eric Esch. However, his sheer size and unique presence in the sport made him a cult figure, a giant among men.

Fedor vs Zuluzinho

Zuluzinho size was further emphasized when standing against the notably small heavyweight of Emelianenko, who was merely 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and 237 lb (108 kg), roughly half the size of his opponent.

When the two fighters met in the PRIDE FC ring, the result was swift and decisive. Zuluzinho, with his size advantage, entered the fight as a clear physical threat. But it was Fedor’s exceptional skill that would quickly put an end to any threat. Just 26 seconds into the first round, Fedor knocked out Zuluzinho in a display of brilliance putting down the giant.

Fedor vs Zuluzinho 2

Despite this, Zuluzinho remains a memorable figure in the sport’s history, known for his immense size and colorful career. He still remained active up until 2022.

fedor emelianenko vs zuluzinho

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski 2 in boxing for later this year

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski 2Nearly fifteen years after their first meeting, Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski are likely to meet again in a…

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski 2

Nearly fifteen years after their first meeting, Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski are likely to meet again in a boxing match rumored for late 2024.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski 2

The heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski first met in 2009 at an Affliction event, sponsored by M-1 and Donald Trump. The two traded hands, with the quick Arlovski getting the better of the Russian. But, the UFC champion jumped for a flying knee attack and Emelianenko countered with a flush overhand which knocked Arlovski late in round 1.

Now, the two aged fighters are looking to meet once again but this time under boxing rules. It seems a match may be booked in RCC Fights.

Fedor

“The Last Emperor” Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight fighter in MMA history having beaten a cavalcade of impressive names including UFC champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Frank Mir, Tim Sylvia, Arlovski, Mark Coleman, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, and kickboxing greats Mirko Cro Cop and Semmy Schilt.

The Russian athlete has a background in Combat Sambo and was a staple of both PRIDE FC, Strikeforce, and Bellator MMA. His last win was a first-round knockout against the US-born Timothy Johnson in 2021.

Former UFC heavyweight champion “The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski, of Belarus, was a standout athlete in the early 2000s due to his incredibly quick hands. He had an MMA stretching from 1999 to 2024. He finished his UFC career on a four-fight losing streak.

Now, it seems, Emelianenko and Arlovski are looking to lace up the gloves once again but this time under Queensbury rules.

fedor sweater

On This Day: Mirko Cro Cop Knocks Out Alexander Emelianenko with a Head Kick – August 15, 2004

Mirko Cro Cop Knocks Out Alexander Emelianenko with a Head Kick - August 15, 2004Twenty years ago to the day, Mirko Cro Cop delivered an iconic head kick against the highly skilled Russian-born…

Mirko Cro Cop Knocks Out Alexander Emelianenko with a Head Kick - August 15, 2004

Twenty years ago to the day, Mirko Cro Cop delivered an iconic head kick against the highly skilled Russian-born Alexander Emelianenko. This would lead to a match between the Croatian kickboxer against the PRIDE FC world champion, brother of Alexander, Fedor Emelianenko.

Pride FC: Final Conflict 2004

The August 15 event was to be the finals of the Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix, set to feature the semi-finals and final match of the tournament. Fedor Emelianenko quickly subbed Naoya Ogawa while “Big Nog” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira fought a full fifteen minutes against Russia’s Sergei Kharitonov. Nogueira and Fedor met in the finals, but the fight was called off as a No Contest due to an accidental cut. Thus, the other matches on the card became the memorable moments from this event.

Mirko Cro Cop Knocks Out Alexander Emelianenko with a Head Kick

Mirko Cro Cop Filipovi? was a standout fighter in K-1 Kickboxing. The Croatian-born fighter was a training partner of the first K-1 Champion Branko Cikati?. Fighting during the golden age of kickboxing, he had wars against some of the best kickboxers in history including Andy Hug, Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Ray Sefo, Remy Bonjasky, Mike Bernardo and Mark Hunt, and others.

But when Mirko Cro Cop transitioned to MMA and competed in PRIDE FC, then he became a megastar. It was his head kick knockouts from the southpaw that made him transcend and become a household name in Japan and among MMA fans. “Right kick hospital, left leg cemetery.”

Igor Vovchanchyn, Dos Caras Jr., and Heath Herring were knocked out by the heavy kicks of the Croatian fighter. But the unbeaten Alexander Emelianenko at a towering 6’3″ was expected to pose a new challenge. Instead, Mirko knocked him out with a signature head kick just two minutes into their meeting.

Wanderlei Silva Stomps Yuki Kondo

wanderlei yuki kondo

Maybe the most iconic knockout of the career of Wanderlei Silva. A brutal finish from the Vale Tudo fighter. Wanderlei knocks down the Pancrase veteran and then stomps him out on the canvas. An unforgettable image. Yuki Kondo is often dismissed as an easy win but Yuki Kondo was a veteran and this was the first time he’d lost by KO/TKO in his career. I’ve written at length about the BMF career of Yuki Kondo.

UFC veteran Ronda Rousey brands Fedor Emelianenko the greatest MMA fighter ever: ‘His era had it all’

Ronda Rousey brands Fedor Emelianenko the greatest MMA fighter of all time his era had it all UFCFormer undisputed bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey has revealed who she believes is the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of…

Ronda Rousey brands Fedor Emelianenko the greatest MMA fighter of all time his era had it all UFC

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey has revealed who she believes is the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all-time – landing on Russian heavyweight icon, Fedor Emelianenko, claiming the era of the PRIDE FC great “had it all”.

Rousey, a former undisputed bantamweight champion under the banner of the UFC and the now-defunct, Strikeforce promotion, called time on her mixed martial arts career following a hellacious first round knockout loss to Amanda Nunes back in 2016. 

Ronda Rousey not considering UFC return amid links to featherweight debut
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Linked with a massive return to the Octagon in the time since, grappling ace, Rousey saw a potential comeback hit the skids with UFC boss, Dana White confirming how the Californian would likely never compete in mixed martial arts again.

Ronda Rousey brands Fedor Emelianenko the GOAT

Furthermore, chances of a return to combat sports for Rousey were cast into certain doubt earlier this week, with the former bantamweight queen revealing a slew of repeated concussions and other neurological injuries compiled during her sports tenure.

However, labelling herself as the greatest fighter of all-time – to much criticizm, Rousey has listed former Bellator MMA heavyweight, and PRIDE FC legend, Emelianenko as the best fighter to ever compete in mixed martial arts.

Fedor Emelianenko
Mandatory Credit: Bellator MMA

“I think Fedor (Emelianenko), dude, his time had it all,” Ronda Rousey told TalkSPORT. “He had a relationship with Judo, too. I am a big nerd for Judo, and Sambo is basically Russian Judo.” 

“I’ve got to say, too, his [Emelianenko] versus (Mirko Cro Cop) is my favorite MMA match of all-time,” Ronda Rousey explained. 

Prior to her 2016 knockout loss to Brazilian icon, Nunes in her return to the Octagon, Rousey saw her undefeated record come to a crashing halt in the form of a brutal high-kick KO defeat to Holly Holm in the pair’s bantamweight title grudge fight in Australia the year prior.

Ronda Rousey Bio 06d8789c2edd0524df6c49a45e0aaa45

Recognized as arguably the greatest heavyweight fighter of all-time, Russian veteran, Emelianenko called time on his combat sports career back in February of last year, dropping a first round knockout loss to Ryan Bader in the pair’s Bellator MMA heavyweight championship rematch.

Do you agree with Ronda Rousey’s thoughts on the GOAT discussion?

UFC champion Jon Jones gushes over meeting MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko at PFL vs. Bellator

Jon Jones meets FedorJon Jones had the opportunity to hang out with heavyweight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko. ‘Bones’ and ‘The Last Emperor’…

Jon Jones meets Fedor

Jon Jones had the opportunity to hang out with heavyweight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.

‘Bones’ and ‘The Last Emperor’ were both in attendance at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, February 24, for the historic PFL vs. Bellator event. While there, the two combat sports stars had the chance to connect with the current UFC heavyweight champion gushing over the opportunity to meet one of his MMA idols.

“I love you Fedor!” Jones exclaimed. “You were one of my favorites, always, forever, brother. You and Aleksandr. Tell your brother I said hello.”

Fedor Emelianenko’s strained relationship with his brother

The exchange was a little awkward, particularly when Jones commented about Fedor’s brother, Aleksandr Emelianenko. While the younger Emelianenko is an accomplished combat sports athlete in his own right as a three-time Combat Sambo world champion, he and his brother are estranged as a result of Aleksandr’s extensive criminal history.

He was accused of assaulting and raping his former housekeeper in May 2014 in addition to stealing her passport. In May 2015, he was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was released after 17 months.

In 2017, Aleksandr Emelianenko revealed in an interview with sovsports.ru that he and Fedor had not spoken for a decade at that point, placing the blame on “sycophants” who were leeching off his brother’s fame and fortune. Shortly after, ‘The Last Emperor’ responded in an open letter.

“Usually I don’t comment on other people’s statements. But I cannot remain silent. This is my first and last answer to you. I consider it beneath my dignity to constantly react to your lies.

“And now the most important thing – why I decided to make this open appeal to you: you called my relatives sycophants. Sycophant – that’s you, Judas. I feel sorry that people who were close to you and supported you in hard moments are now suffering. I personally have apologized for you to dozens of people.

“You can say what you like about me, I’ll endure it, but do not dare to insult those close to me. Besides, you don’t even know them. And all those whom you know helped you and played an important role in your life. And you are not worth their little finger. Therefore, you are not in my circle.

“In one of your interviews you said that you can help me. But I do not understand how you, [someone] who was released [from prison] not long ago and is known for constant violations of his training regime, can help me. I can only think of one thing – not to dishonor the family name of me and my parents!” (h/t MMA Mania).

MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko wants to fight ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing match

Fedor EmelianenkoRecently retired MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko would love to test out his boxing skills against former UFC heavyweight champion…

Fedor Emelianenko

Recently retired MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko would love to test out his boxing skills against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

After more than 20 years and nearly 50 fights, ‘The Last Emperor’ hung up his gloves following a first-round knockout loss to Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February 2023. Emelianenko has essentially slammed the door shut on a potential return to the cage, but the Russian combat sports icon would love to opportunity to step inside the squared circle.

As for who he would like to face in a potential boxing match, Emelianenko had only one name in mind.

“I’d like to fight Francis Ngannou,” Emelianenko said in an interview with Red Corner MMA. “I want to box him. I can’t do MMA anymore, but I’d like to box him. Yes, I’d like to fight him. Maybe it’s not overconfidence, but it’d be interesting to fight him.”

After making a name for himself under the UFC banner, Francis Ngannou parted ways with the promotion in January 2023. Since then, his star power has skyrocketed following a brilliant performance against reigning WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury. Ngannou may have lost the bout via a very questionable split decision, but his performance against ‘The Gypsy King’ landed him a spot on the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings.

Next, ‘The Predator’ will fight the No. 1 ranked heavyweight contender in the world, Anthony Joshua, on March 9 in Saudi Arabia. If Ngannou pulls off the victory, it will likely set the stage for a championship rematch with Tyson Fury — assuming the British boxing star handles his business with Oleksandr Usyk later this year.

Would you be interested in seeing Fedor Emelianenko strap on the eight-ounce gloves for a clash with Francis Ngannou in the sweet science?